Framework Agreement


A major milestone in the development of the Generation IV International Forum was reached when ten of the forum’s member countries signed the world's first agreement aimed at the international development of advanced nuclear energy systems, the Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems. The annex to the Framework Agreement lists the implementing agents and was updated on 16 January 2019. The table below summarises the Parties to the Framework Agreement, the System Arrangements and the Memoranda of Understanding. 

GIF Framework Agreement extended for ten years

GIF Framework Extension AgreementThe ten-year extension of the Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems was signed by France, Japan, Korea and the United States on 26 February 2015, in a ceremony held at the OECD in the presence of Mr Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General and Depositary of the Framework Agreement, and Mr William D. Magwood, IV, NEA Director-General. The Framework Agreement Extension was subsequently signed by Russia (June 2015), Switzerland (August 2015), South Africa (September 2015) and China (June 2016). With the signature of Canada and Euratom in October and November 2016 respectively, the Framework Agreement Extension has now been signed by all active GIF members. On 14 September 2017, Australia deposited its Instrument of Accession to the Framework Agreement. On 17 October 2018, the United Kingdom deposited its Instrument of Ratification, and the Framework Agreement entered into force ninety days later on 16 January 2019.

 

PARTIES TO GIF FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AND SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS

Member
Framework
Agreement
System Arrangements
Memoranda of
Understanding (MOU)
 
GFR
SCWR
SFR
VHTR
LFR
MSR
Argentina              
Australia
X        X    X 
Brazil
             
Canada
X   X   X   X 
Euratom1
X
X
X
X
X
X X
France
X
X
 
X
X
  X
Japan
X
X
X
X
X
X  
People's Republic of China
X
  X 
X
X
X  
Republic of Korea
X
   
X
X
 X  
Republic of South Africa
X
           
Russian Federation
X   X  X
 
  X X 
Switzerland2
X
     
X
  X 
United Kingdom3
X     X X     
United States
X
   
X
X
X  X 
* Among the signatories to the Charter, twelve Members (Australia, Canada, Euratom, France, Japan, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Russian Federation, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States) have signed or acceded to the Framework Agreement (FA) as shown in the table above, other signatories to the Charter (Argentina and Brazil) are Non-Active Members. 

1. The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) is the implementing organisation for development of nuclear energy within the European Union.
2. Switzerland was a signatory to the GFR System Arrangement from 11/2006 to 11/2015.
3. United Kingdom ratified the Framework Agreement in October 2018.