Outcome and Actions of the 2019 Reflection Group of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA)

摘要

The European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA), founded in 1969, is a voluntary association of European organizations formed to foster, advance and harmonize research and development (R&D) in the area of nuclear safeguards. It provides a forum for the exchange of information and ideas between nuclear facility operators, safeguards national authorities, regional and international inspectorates, and individuals engaged in safeguards-related research and development. Today ESARDA includes 33 Parties from within the European Union. In addition, a further eight laboratories, authorities, operators and academic institutions from outside the EU have joined ESARDA as Associate Members, while the Association signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy, and a Letter of Intent with the Institute for Nuclear Materials Management. ESARDA seeks to maintain a dynamic approach to the developing priorities, while ensuring that its activities continue to anticipate future needs, which is why the Association periodically undertakes a formal Reflection Group exercise. In the last 2 years, the Reflection Group, RG2019, worked along the following objectives: 1. develop a roadmap to improve and enhance the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of safeguards and non-proliferation in Europe and abroad; and 2. ensure that the future activities of ESARDA are both consistent with the Association's purpose, as stated in the ESARDA Agreement, and address the needs of the ESARDA members and/or stakeholders. In the report, finalized before the ESARDA Symposium in May 2019, three specific goals were identified: 1. establish short term ESARDA priorities (2019 to 2024) and prepare a roadmap -i.e. WHAT; 2. define ESARDA's long-term future (2019-2050) activities based on the new landscape in Europe and internationally - to be reviewed before 2025 to establish the next 5 year plan; and 3. review the ESARDA organization, and discuss HOW ESARDA can achieve the identified objectives and implement the identified roadmap. A World Cafe on these topics was organized and held during the 2019 Symposium. In this paper, the key outcomes and results of the ESARDA Reflection Group 2019 are presented, including their relevance for the international partners of ESARDA.