The EU’s first Fusion Strategy is due to be published this year, delivering on commitments made in the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan.
The Strategy seeks to transition fusion energy from a scientific research phase into a commercial industry.
Whilst Europe has long been a global leader in fusion through its central role in the ITER project and sustained efforts under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, global competition is rapidly growing. The USA, UK, China and Japan have all launched national fusion strategies and boosted relationships with private investment.
In preparation, the Commission collected valuable insights through several stakeholder consultations including a Call for Evidence, which ran between 3 June and 1 July 2025.
To maintain the EU’s leadership and competitiveness in fusion, the strategy will:
- outline actions to leverage Europe’s leading role in the ITER project and R&D
- define a clear pathway to a pilot Fusion Power Plant
- create a competitive industrial ecosystem
- enhance private sector involvement (including start-ups) through public-private partnerships and new funding mechanisms
- develop a workforce strategy to address skills shortage
- mobilise and develop the European fusion supply chain
- establish an enabling regulatory framework for fusion facilities
- strengthen international collaboration
- establish effective governance and decision-making process at EU level.
The EU has a number of ongoing fusion projects and partnerships
The most notable of these is the ITER project, an international collaboration aimed to building the world’s biggest fusion machine in southern France.
The ITER agreement was signed by China, Euratom (represented by the European Commission), India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA in 2006. Together, they govern the ITER Organization, which is responsible for constructing and managing the project. The main governing body of the ITER Organization is the ITER Council where the 7 members meet twice a year to guide and steer the project.
To further support fusion innovation and development, the EU allocated €5.6 billion to the project in the EU budget for 2021-2027.
In parallel to their collaboration on the ITER project, the EU and Japan are working together under a separate agreement since 2007, referred to as the Broader Approach. It covers cooperation on 3 fusion-related projects, all located in Japan, aiming to complement ITER and accelerate the development of fusion power.
