The European countries addressed for decades the nuclear proliferation risks. Most of the commitments made by the involved states during previous years have already been fulfilled. In particular, considerable progress was made in strengthening nuclear security, while recognising that continuous efforts are still needed to achieve that goal.

In a combined effort to minimise nuclear proliferation risks, research reactors from all over the world have joined in a project aiming at reducing the enrichment of their fuels. To support these international non-proliferation efforts, the European high-performance research reactors have launched studies aiming at converting their fuels to a significantly lower level of enrichment, and if possible to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU). These studies consist of a joint fuel development program with reactor-specific conversion efforts following the application of that fuel.

The final goal of this project is to remove Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) fuel from the civil nuclear fuel cycle as far as is reasonable. This purpose is also set out in the 2014 Hague Nuclear Security Summit Communiqué.

Important dates

• 1953: atoms for peace speech of Eisenhower
• Late 1970s: concerns raised about nuclear proliferation
• 1978: U.S. DOE initiated the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR). Russian Federation later began activities similar to RERTR with the same objective. Development of high density LEU fuels (e.g. uranium silicide). A prerequisite for the conversion of research reactors from HEU to LEU.
• > 1999: Europe addressed high density LEU fuel qualification for HPRR. IRIS, LEONIDAS, ALPS and HERACLES programmes