The Evolution of International Safeguards – A View from Germany

On the 25 March 1957, the T reaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, the so - called 'Euratom Treaty' was signed by the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. This treaty constituted the legal framework to establish a multinational safeguards system in these countries to guarantee that nuclear materials are not diverted from their intended uses as declared by the users. In 1973, IAEA, Euratom and the nuclear non - weapon States of Euratom signed an agreement t o accept safeguards pursuant to the NPT on all nuclear material in all their peaceful activities. This 'Verification Agr eement' , known as INFCIRC/193 and derived from INFCIRC/153, provided the basic for the co - operation between IAEA and Euratom in conducting their respective safeguards activities. Over the years, this co - operation evolved into a real partnership now governe d by the rule of 'one job one person'. In the sixties and the following two decades, Germany embarked into numerous nuclear activities covering nearly the whole spectrum of different nuclear facilities. Germany thus has collect ed experiences with safeguard s approaches and safeguards practices for many installations in the nuclear fuel cycle. The paper will also deal with the safeguards implementation at the State level . The implication on Safeguards Implementation and evaluation for Germany will be analyzed.