The ITER Transitional Arrangements (ITA) came into force on 1st January 2003 and will terminate upon the entry into force of the ITER Joint Implementation Agreement or earlier if the Participants so decide.

The scope of the ITA includes:

1. Organisational preparations that will enable the ITER Legal Entity(ILE) to operate effectively without delay following the signature/ratification of the ITER Joint Implementation Agreement:
   • establishment of precursory interim structures and bodies for the key elements of the ILE structure foreseen for the ITER Joint Implementation;
   • establishment, following consensus on the preferred site for ITER construction, of an interim centre for joint work at that site, and provisional arrangements for the assignment of participants' staff to that site;
   • co-ordination of preparations within each participant of appropriate domestic arrangements for contributing to ITER Joint Implementation;
   • identification and provisional assignment of potential senior staff of the ILE;
   • elaboration of administrative procedures, documents and other tools foreseen for managing ITER Joint Implementation.
2. Joint technical preparations (continuing those begun during Coordinated Technical Activities) directed at maintaining the coherence and integrity of the ITER design and at preparing for an efficient start of ITER construction, including, but not limited to:
   • maintaining the documented design basis for ITER;
   • site specific design adaptation for a preferred site,
   • preparing for the procurement process;
   • developing, and introducing on a provisional basis, ITER construction project management systems and other appropriate management tools;
   • preparing licensing of ITER and undertaking necessary safety analyses.

The structure for the ITA comprises

• an ITER Preparatory Committee;
  • composed of two members from each Participant, plus the Nominee Director General;
  • responsible for the overall direction of the ITA and supervising their implementation;
  • working for a smooth transition towards the organisation and structure for ITER construction being developed in the frame of the ITER negotiations.
• a Nominee Director General, responsible for
  • assuring the overall technical coherence and documentation of the design for ITER;
  • the development, update and submission to the Committee for approval of a programme of technical work to prepare the start of ITER construction;
  • organisation, direction and supervision of the Transitional Project Team (contributed to the joint work sites by each participant) in its performance of the work programme;
  • co-ordination of technical activities undertaken in the Participant Teams;
  • assistance to the Committee in its organisational preparations for the entry into force of the ITER Joint Implementation Agreement;
  • representation of the Project publicly.
• Participant Teams
  • acting as a single point of contact with the Nominee Director General to ensure the coherence of the Project;
  • undertaking technical tasks assigned to them in the Work Programme.

Each Participant bears the costs of its contribution to the Arrangements. The Participants may decide to establish a common fund to support certain common expenses.

Prior to selection of the Transitional Project Team, this position is filled ad interim by the International Team.