CLARIFICATION OF IEA STANCE ON EU POLICY REVIEW

The IEA has consistently stated that overall energy sector R&D investment needs to be increased in all world regions.

Recent press reports have suggested that the new IEA publication, "IEA Energy Policies Review: The European Union – 2008" calls
for cuts in funding of fusion energy, particularly of the ITER project.

The focus in the EU R&D policy review was not on ITER, rather, the total R&D spending envelope.

The study raises the question whether the total amount allotted to R&D is sufficient to attain both the short- and long-term EU policy goals.
The review states that any allocation of funding should be done "keeping in mind its international obligations towards the ITER project."

ITER is an important international project, which many IEA member countries support.