Supporting PECO countries in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear materials - Status of ongoing projects

In order to support the development of an effective and validated response to counteract illicit trafficking of nuclear materials in the EU, the candidate countries and some CIS countries, ITU is currently executing a series of dedicated projects with the Candidate Countries to the European Union, based upon the experience gained in previous Phare and Tacis projects. Following the recommendations of the International Technical Working Group (ITWG), the objectives of the projects are: assessment of the national situation during a fact-finding mission in the country; technical upgrade and/or training related to the categorization of nuclear material on the spot and assistance for the identification of seized nuclear material, through joint analysis at ITU; implementation of the recommended Model Action Plan in the form of a national handbook called RITNUM (Response to Illicit Trafficking of NUclear Material); validation of the national Model Action Plan by the organisation of a demonstration exercise in the country involving all the identified services in the field. After a kick-off meeting held in Karlsruhe in November 2000 and attended by two participants of each country, 5 fact-finding missions have been already performed (Romania, Slovenia and the three Baltic States). A general meeting with all the involved parties (Customs, Police, Intelligence services, Health Physics, Nuclear reference laboratory ..) was organized to describe the procedure of the integrated response and the national needs were assessed. The corresponding training sessions are planned in January 2002 at ITU for three participants for each country (Customs and Police officer and high level scientist dealing with nuclear measurements). This training session will be organised and supported by IAEA which a common interest through its Regional Program on Combating Illicit Trafficking (RER60). This joint action will be extended to other eastern countries (Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan) on IAEA request. For the Romanian Police has been equipped with specific personal detection devices and nuclear data software (Nuclide 2000) upon request. As EUROPOL showed interest during the kick-off meeting, a close co-operation is being organised including training for EUROPOL staff and a common follow-up of the above-cited projects. Participation to the demonstration exercises is foreseen. Last but not least, as a spin-off of the project with Poland, an additional pilot project for the detection of nuclear material at the Polish/Russian border around Kaliningrad operated jointly by Russian customs and Polish border guards has recently been submitted. (author)