Since June there have been two meetings of the NSSG (Negotiators Standing Subgroup) to elaborate the terms and conditions of the Joint Implementation Agreement on ITER construction, operation and decommissioning, and related instruments. These meetings have made significant progress on all fronts. The next meeting of the Negotiators (N9) will take place in Beijing on 5-11th November to review this work and determine what remains to be finalised. A further meeting (N-10) is currently planned for December.

Discussions at the political level between the Participants on the choice of site are at a critical stage. To prepare a European decision between its candidate sites of Cadarache (France) and Vandellòs (Spain), a committee chaired by Professor Sir David King (Scientific Advisor to UK PM Tony Blair) was set up by the European Commission in May. This reported to a European Council of Ministers Meeting on Competitiveness in September. However the Council deferred final discussion until its next meeting on November 27th. A recent newspaper report indicates that Canada's hopes for Federal financial support for its Clarington site offer may not be forthcoming on the timescale expected. Canadian negotiators had recognised in December 2002 that without such backing their site offer had less chance of success.

A series of "preparatory" meetings in Vienna of high level Negotiators has been taking place to make progress on the siting, selection of senior staff, and procurement/cost sharing issues, which are inextricably linked and depend on agreements between governments at the highest political level. The first meeting took place on 19th June, and a further meeting took place on 9-10th October. Further meetings are currently scheduled for November and December.

Meanwhile at the project level the second Preparatory Committee meeting took place on 24th September in Culham. This discussed the organisation and status of the work of the International Team, the Participants contributions to the ITA, proposals for introducing new project management tools, the integration of the work of the ITPA in ITER, the re-establishment of the Test Blanket Working Group, and risk management. The next meeting is currently scheduled for December.

Previous versions of this "What's New" page are also available:

• Korea joins ongoing negotiations - June 16th, 2003.
• Eighth Negotiators Meeting - February 20th, 2003.
• US announces joining ITER negotiations - February 3rd, 2003.
• China applies to join ITER - January 24th, 2003.
• Seventh Negotiators Meeting - December 16th, 2002.

As always, regular reports on the progress of ITER are given in the IAEA ITER Newsletter.

Further general news about fusion (with a US emphasis).

updated November 3rd, 2003