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Talk of the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom, Europe’s nuclear umbrella organisation, as an unavoidable cost of Brexit caused a stink in March, with warnings of big challenges if we left. Now, following the general election, there is a on this critical issue.

Why is Euratom so important? Nuclear research, regulation and trade is complex, expensive and relies on international partnerships. The European Atomic Energy Community, or Euratom, was formed in 1957 to lower barriers, promote non-military nuclear research and technology, establish common safety standards, and ensure that all members get a regular and fair supply of ores and nuclear fuels.

Since then, the UK’s membership of Euratom has been vital to its nuclear research, regulation and technology.

For example, Euratom oversees the complex international trade in radioisotopes that are crucial in medicine, for both the treatment and diagnosis of illnesses including cancer. The UK undertakes about 1.5 per cent of all medical imaging in the world, but it doesn’t produce many of the radioisotopes needed, including molybdenum-99, which is central to many hospital imaging techniques. Instead it imports radioisotopes – a trade eased by Euratom membership.

Nuclear inspections

Euratom also provides inspections for all UK nuclear power stations – which provide 21 per cent of the country’s electricity. This is no small job: in 2014, this required some 220 inspections and 1000 Euratom person-days.

The UK’s world-leading role in fusion research is also closely tied to Euratom. The Joint European Torus (JET) at the in Oxfordshire is one of Europe’s most important facilities, and gets around €56 million annually from Euratom.

And whilst the UK research councils fund the Fusion Centre for Doctoral Training at the universities of York, Durham, Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford – essential for the training of the next generation of leaders in fusion – its success is underpinned by access to world-class facilities like JET.

The Euratom treaty provides the framework for all of these activities, and if the UK were to withdraw then its functions will need to be either replicated domestically or re-acquired through new arrangements with Euratom and other international bodies, which could take years and leave us in limbo.

Alternative approach

There is an easier alternative that would be welcome. Membership of Euratom is still possible for nations outside the EU via associate member status, and the government is . However, associate membership would require abiding by relevant rulings from the European Court of Justice, an EU institution.

If associate membership is ruled out, and the UK insists on withdrawing from Euratom, the UK government must put in place transitional arrangements to cover any gap before new nuclear trade agreements are struck. It must ensure the flow of materials, including medical radioisotopes, can continue without interruption.

Additionally, the UK should seek to retain its membership of the and continue to work with Euratom and global partners to mitigate any potential shortages in medical radioisotopes.

Finally, the UK must provide guaranteed funding for Euratom-related nuclear research projects, including JET and our role in the huge ITER fusion project in France, to ensure that the nation’s world-leading science isn’t threatened.

All of this requires significant technical work and international goodwill. If the UK quits Euratom without taking these steps, then its nuclear industry, medical imaging, research base and technological future will be at serious risk.