[en] The Working Group was appointed by the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Energy to propose a framework scheme and possibly a new organization for the existing nuclear power plant safety research programme for the period 1999 to 2002. While planning the programme, account has been taken of the recent changes in the framework, the opportunity to participate in the research and development-programmes of the European Union in the first place. The principal aim of the national nuclear power plant safety research is to create the necessary conditions to ensure and even enhance the high safety level of the running nuclear power plants in Finland. In addition, the research programme should take care of the national know-how especially for the needs of the safety authorities and it should also maintain the capability for the research and development-needs in the case of new power plant projects. The dissemination of the results obtained in terms of the national research programme and via international cooperation as well as the education and training of the researchers are also part of the programme