Introduction Special Issue on European Programme towards DEMO: Outcome of the Pre-Conceptual Design Phase

One of the main EU fusion roadmap objectives [1] is to develop a Demonstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO), following ITER and due to come into operation after the middle of this century. This is currently viewed as one of the final crucial steps towards the exploitation of fusion power, not only in Europe but also by many of the nations engaged in the ITER construction.