Transitional arrangements for ITER started

Negotiations by the ITER Parties on the Agreement on the Establishment of the International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (ITER Implementation Agreement, or simply 'the Agreement') and on the site selection for construction of the ITER machine are making good progress. Therefore, the ITER Parties decided that subsequent to the ITER Co-ordinated Technical Activities (CTA), the Transitional Arrangements for ITER (ITA or 'the Arrangements') will start on 1 January 2003, conducted under the auspices of the IAEA, and will terminate upon the entry into force of the Agreement, or at such earlier date as the Participants may decide. The Parties to the ITER Engineering Design Activities and the participants in the Negotiations on the ITER Joint Implementation wishing to co-operate in the ITER Transitional Arrangements will be the ITA Participants ('the Participants'). All four current ITER Parties, namely Canada, the European Union, Japan, and the Russian Federation confirmed, before the end of 2002, in their letters to the IAEA Director General their intention to participate in the ITA. The Arrangements are also open to new Participants acceding the Negotiations. The purpose of the ITA is to prepare for an efficient start of the Agreement, if and when so decided, and to maintain the integrity of the ITER Project. The overall direction of the Arrangements, as well as the supervision of their implementation will be exercised by the ITER Preparatory Committee ('the Committee'). It will be composed of two members from each Participant to the Arrangements. In exercising its functions, the Committee shall work for a smooth transition towards the organization and structure for ITER construction being developed in the frame of the ITER Negotiations. The first meeting of the Committee is scheduled for St. Petersburg, RF, on 17 February 2003