The European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) ESARDA is a recognized association created in 1969 the main objective of which is to advance and harmonise research and development in the area of nuclear safeguards. ESARDA is also a forum for the exchange of information and ideas between nuclear facility operators, safeguards authorities and persons engaged in research and development. The principal issues are co-ordination of research, exchange of information and joint execution of R&D programmes. ESARDA assesses periodically the international and European context and reviewed its policies and objectives to adapt its structure and operation to the new challenges. Following the last revision in 2000, the scope of ESARDA has been extended to new verification areas and its structure and operation adapted accordingly. During the last decennium, 2000-2010 important changes have taken place in the field of global security: international safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear security and nuclear disarmament verification. At the same time, a new development of the civilian use of nuclear energy is taking place progressively world-wide and within the EU including new actors and leading to a wider diffusion of nuclear materials and sensitive technologies To keep the Association in phase with the evolution in the world and able to tackle the new and future challenges, ESARDA set up a new Reflection Group "RG 2010" to review the scope of activities and operation/management of the Association. The RG 2010 assessed the international and European context and the trends in nuclear non proliferation and safeguards, security and disarmament verification areas and their impact on ESARDA's activities, to analyze whether further actions and activities are needed and finally to make proposals regarding possible improvements in the objectives, scope, structure and operations/management. The participants of the Reflection Group mirror the expertise of ESARDA members and cover all the WG activities. The group met several time and addressed most of the important issues on safeguards and verification. This paper describes the process of the establishment of the new group, the work which has been carried out and the main outcomes of this collective undertaking.
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