Nuclear safeguards for protection of citizens: EU Commission and IAEA celebrate 25 years' co-operation

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Today the European Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) celebrate 25 years of cooperation in the control of nuclear materials and facilities. This anniversary is marked by an event at the European Commission's Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The IAEA is charged with verifying that states live up to their international obligations in the area of nuclear non-proliferation. This includes not diverting nuclear material or using facilities for the development of nuclear weapons. The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has provided scientific and technical support to this work for quarter of a century, with over 100 scientists and technicians working on more than 25 projects. The anniversary event is also an opportunity for both parties to plan their future joint activities.

"Work on nuclear safeguards is extremely important for global security," says European Science and Research Commissioner, Janez Potočnik. "Our work with the IAEA will remain fundamental to what we do in this field. I am sure the next 25 years will be as successful as the last."

"DG Joint Research Centre has provided us with tremendous scientific and technical support which has enabled us to perform our duties", said IAEA Deputy Director General Olli Heinonen. "This has had a positive impact on the security, not only of the citizens of the European Union, but also for people world-wide."

Various institutes of DG JRC are involved in the work on nuclear safeguards in support of the IAEA: the Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe, Germany; the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements in Geel, Belgium; and the Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen in Ispra, Italy.

| Arriba |

• EU Commission and IAEA meet to reinforce mutual cooperation (19/1/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - Report of the IAEA (30/10/2006)
• EU Commission and IAEA: Ongoing Co-operation (5/10/2006)
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - EU Parliament Hearing considers its future (20/9/2006)