Long-term fusion strategy in Europe

The aim of the European fusion programme is to make available, as early as possible, fusion power as a source of electric energy. At a significantly earlier date, however, this programme should provide conclusive information on the practicability of fusion power production, and on its safety, environmental and economic aspects. Due to the associated long lead times, technologies which can possibly come to fruition only in a second generation of power plants must also be studied now. Here we describe the necessary elements of such a forward directed strategy, whose next step is based on the integration of fusion physics and technology in the ITER device, and on a material development programme, including a neutron irradiation facility with a fusion relevant spectrum.