Year
2009
Abstract
The European Commission, through its system of regional safeguards, has worked in close cooperation with the IAEA for several decades ensuring that both organisations are able to meet their respective safeguards requirements and draw their own independent conclusions. Since concluding the EU safeguards agreement in 1973, there have been a number of challenges which have tested this cooperation; the implementation of integrated safeguards is the latest of these, and one which is currently well on the way to being met in full. At an early stage of the extensive negotiations on the implementation of integrated safeguards in the EU, the Commission accepted that the Agency's proposal for limited inspections of an unpredictable nature should be accommodated. This was a significant concession requiring a further re-interpretation of the safeguards agreement, and one which was accepted in the interests of international safeguards. For its part, the Agency continues to take account of the Euratom regional system and the long standing Partnership Approach is being adapted for integrated safeguards. This will see the Agency making full use of Euratom scheduled inspections and the introduction of a rolling scheme enabling the Commission to adequately plan resources for participation in IAEA scheduled random inspections announced at short notice. The Commission in conjunction with its member states has recently completed a thorough review of Euratom Treaty safeguards leaving it well placed to continue providing the required assurances on the use made of nuclear material in the EU. The resultant approach is focussed on the entire nuclear fuel cycle – including the civil nuclear material in the weapons states – with due account taken of cross-cutting aspects of security and supply.