Brussels, 16 March 2026

Open Letter to Mrs Terera RIBERA

Executive Vice-President Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

Subject: Your visit  to F4E and the need for the Commission’s unwavering support for F4E in the context of the strengthened governance framework established for the agencies and Joint Undertakings.

Ref: Fusion for Energy F4E – Renouveau & Démocratie

On several occasions, and through our communications, lasty with our open letter to Commissioners Serafin and Dan Jørgensen  read we have stressed how essential it is for F4E to be able to rely on the Commission’s unwavering support in the context of the strengthened governance framework established for the agencies and the Joint Undertakings (JUs).

We have in particular emphasized that such support is indispensable if F4E is finally to emerge from a crisis that has lasted far too long, as clearly illustrated by the very results of all the staff consultations organized over the past several years.

We had already greatly appreciated the favourable response Commissioner Serafin gave to our request to ask the Chief Confidential Counsellor of the Commission to take charge of assisting F4E colleagues by going there in person during her very first mission to a regulatory agency or JUs.

It was therefore with great satisfaction that we noted that our calls had further been heard and that you announced your intention to visit F4E. While we fully understand that recent events in the Middle East forced you to postpone the visit, we are now awaiting communication of the new date with great anticipation.

Pending this, we believe it would be useful to bring to your attention the issues and concerns that our colleagues have raised with us, particularly regarding F4E’s current and future priorities.

First of all, we would like to confirm that we are fully aware of ITER’s essential role as a key, fundamental, and indispensable step toward demonstrating the feasibility of fusion as an energy source.

We would also like to confirm that F4E staff are fully committed to doing their utmost to contribute to the success of ITER. We are fully aware of our responsibility to help meet the expectations that citizens around the world place in the success of this project.

We would nevertheless also like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of F4E as a core actor in the development of fusion research in Europe. This role is essential, on the one hand, to help meet the growing need to accelerate research and scientific and technological progress within European laboratories and, on the other hand, to foster the capacity of European industry to grow, capitalize on such progress, and translate these advances into concrete outcomes on the path towards fusion energy.

Over the past two decades, F4E has developed first-of-a-kind systems at the forefront of technological innovation, positioning itself to procure key components for the most important fusion projects, in particular Broader Approach and ITER, which remains a key, fundamental, and indispensable step toward demonstrating the feasibility of fusion as an energy source.

The intangible assets accumulated by F4E over the years through the implementation of ITER and Broader Approach projects, and reinforced by the highly specialized profiles of its staff, should be fully valued and mobilized in support of a coordinated European fusion strategy.

Europe’s technological advantage in fusion research, built over many decades, should form the basis of a coordinated EU programme capable of supporting and reinforcing Europe’s prominence in fusion, thereby providing a valuable strategic advantage.

The competences and experience of F4E staff can allow F4E to evolve further, offering a solid pillar where EU industry and EU research can come together to create the synergies needed to accelerate the development of fusion in Europe.

At present, the European landscape appears uncertain: it holds significant potential, but also a high risk of fragmentation and localism rather than convergence towards a coordinated and robust European strategy and vision.

The key conditions for enabling F4E to grow and to support the coherent development of the European fusion programme are the following.

1) First, F4E must be strengthened as an organization and helped to emerge from a crisis that has now become structural, and to which we have no intention of resigning ourselves.

In this respect, it is absolutely essential to begin addressing, once and for all and finally in an effective manner, the problems that we have repeatedly highlighted and that have been confirmed by all staff consultations, particularly the lack of credible and effective leadership, the lack of transparency and fairness in procedures, the absence of a genuine culture and effective procedures for preventing and managing harassment, and the persistent culture of impunity surrounding such behaviour and other inappropriate conduct.

These concerns must be addressed very rapidly and effectively, and credible remedial actions should be introduced without delay.

In this respect, it is now beyond dispute that, notwithstanding the efforts made by its management, F4E is not in a position to overcome these now structural difficulties on its own or to implement effective and credible remedial measures. This is why effective and, at long last, visible support from the Commission is absolutely indispensable.

2) Second, the importance of completing ITER-related activities must be fully recognized.

Activities related to ITER, including the integration efforts required, should continue to receive the necessary attention in order to ensure the maximum benefit for Europe from ITER’s construction and future operation.

3) Third, a clear strategic vision is needed.

F4E should be equipped with the mandate and the tools necessary to serve as a robust bridge between research and industry, and between ITER, Broader Approach, and the future fusion plant, DEMO.

Conclusion

None of the above-mentioned measures, none of these needs, and none of the expectations of F4E staff can be fulfilled without support from the Commission that is at last both visible and effective. It is therefore to you that we renew this request, while also asking you to pass it on to Commissioner Jørgensen, whom we hope will in turn be able to visit F4E.

For our part, we wish to reaffirm that F4E staff remain fully committed to supporting the Commission’s efforts, not only with regard to ITER but also to ensuring the coherent and robust development of the European fusion programme, maximizing the return on investments made to date, coordinating future funding as effectively as possible, and securing a strategic role for the EU on the path towards fusion energy.

Cristiano SEBASTIANI

President

Copy:

Mr B. Seibert, Head of Cabinet of the President

Mr G. Radziejewski, Head of Cabinet; Ms A. Carrero, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Serafin

Mr M. Engell-Rossen, Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Jørgensen

Ms L. Naesager, Chief confidential Counsellor

Ms I. Juhansone, Secretary-General; Mr P. Leardini, Deputy Secretary-General

Ms D. Juul-Joergensen, DG ENER Director-General; Mr M. Coppola DG ENER

M. M. Huebel, Commission’ representative in the F4E’ Governing Board

M. M. Lachaise, Director Fusion for Energy (F4E)

Staff