Recent achievements and future challenges in safeguards R&D as identified by the European Safeguards Research and Development Association [abstract]

In the year of its 40th anniversary, ESARDA can look back on a wealth of achievements in the European safeguards area, to which its members have substantially contributed. Also today, ESARDA is more active then ever, both due to an extended partnership (with many new members joining in recent years) and a pro-active attitude to tackle new and upcoming issues through its many sectoral Working Groups. ESARDA constitutes today of 9 working groups : Non Destructive Analysis, Destructive Analysis, Containment and Surveillance, Verification Technologies and Methodologies, Integrated Safeguards, Nuclear Material Accounting and Control Audit Focus, Training and Knowledge Management, Fuel Fabrications Plants, Editorial Committee. Most of these working groups organise regular meetings in which they discuss the progress, achievements, problems, challenges and future needs for R&D. They jointly work out solutions to problems and stay abreast of the latest safeguards R&D aspects. This paper will provide an overview of some most relevant recent achievements of the ESARDA Working Groups and will provide an insight in the challenges identified for safeguards R&D in the near and medium term future. Due to the fact that ESARDA has a healthy mix of members from research, authorities, safeguards inspectorates, industry etc, and that the Working Groups do not work in isolation, ESARDA also discusses and gathers very valuable experience with respect to aspects of safeguards implementation on national and international level. Some feedback of this experience will be included in this paper and food for thought will be delivered for the future safeguards implementation schemes.JRC.E.9-Nuclear security (Ispra