The Association Euratom-Hellenic Republic was formally instituted, when the Association Contract ERB 5005 CT 99 0100 between Euratom and the Hellenic Republic was signed on 22 June 1999 and the Steering Committee and the Head of the Research Unit were appointed. In addition, an Administrative Committee has been established as the Governing body for fusion activities in Greece and the responsibilities for administering the Contract of Association have been delegated to the Institute for Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (Director: M. ANTONOPOULOS-DOMIS). Before the establishment of the Association, fusion activities were co-ordinated by the Consultative Committee for Fusion Activities in Greece (CCFA-G) and being funded by Euratom via cost-sharing contracts (since 1991).

The work programme of the Association includes activities in Physics and Underlying Technology. In addition, the Association undertakes Technology Tasks. These activities are conducted in collaboration with other partners to the Euratom Fusion Programme.

In particular, the present scientific and technical Physics Programme is performed in the following Laboratories (with mention of Principal Investigators and active collaborations):

The Technology Programme is performed exclusively at the

• National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute for Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, Athens (S. MESSOLORAS): Fracture micromechanisms of ceramic composites and joints under irradiation, brazing with thermomechanical testing (in collaboration with CEA).

The Physics, Underlying Technology and Technology work of the period 1 January to 31 December 2003 has been performed according to the work programme approved by the Steering Committee. It is presented, along with a brief outline of the corresponding background and objectives, in the following paragraphs 2 (Physics) and 3 (Underlying Technology and Technology). For several of these activities, the work has reached a level of maturity, for which more extensive self-contained articles could be prepared, on the work completed in year 2003. These articles, 23 in all, are attached as Annexes to this Report, with appropriate reference made in the main body of the text. It is also to be noted, that most of this work has been performed in co-operation with other Associates of the European Fusion Programme, as mentioned in Sec. (1b), see also Sec. (4e), and has received preferential support, as provided for activities enhancing the mutual co-operation between Associations. Additional activities of the Association are presented in paragraph 4. They refer to the 2nd School on Fusion Physics and Technology, which took place in Volos (22-27 May 2003), to other educational activities, to the expenditure and personnel of the Association in year 2003, to the publications that have appeared (or, been accepted) in year 2003, as well as to missions undertaken for collaboration with other partners of the Euratom Fusion Programme.