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TA5.HLO1 - Within the frame of the 'Smart Growth', the objective is to provide basic knowledge, education and training, and of state-of-the-art nuclear research facilities.

TA5.HLO4 - Within the frame of the 'Citizens' Agenda', the objective is to implement strong and efficient safeguards, non-proliferation and nuclear security regimes with underpinning research and development, standards and innovative tools and to provide technically assessed and analysed data and scientific support to disaster and crisis response, both in terms of nuclear safety and security concerns

TA5.HLO5 - Within the frame of 'EU in the World', the objective is to pursue and further develop international collaborations in order to promote EU's policy and priorities in global nuclear safety and security issues.

"Nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security, and strong nuclear security measures are the most effective means to prevent terrorists, criminals, or other unauthorized actors from acquiring nuclear materials." This statement from the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by US president Obama in April 2010 strongly underpins the need for better collaboration and for further improving the technical means in the nuclear security area. The CBRN action plan, as adopted by the Council, the IAEA's Nuclear Security plan 2010-2013, the Communiqué and the Workplan of the Nuclear Security Summit and other related documents call for concrete steps to be taken for further enhancing nuclear security. ITU has been involved in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and other ardioactive materials for almost two decades and built up a world-class reputation in nuclear forensics and in response to illicit nuclear incidents. ITU will continue to provide its expertise and enlarge its scientific assets in order to effectively contribute to international efforts for combating illicit trafficking and nuclear terrorism. The collaboration with national authorities (such as law enforcement, regulatory, radiation protection) and international organisations (such as the IAEA, Europol) will be reinforced. The specific tools, skills and facilities available at ITU are assets in combating nuclear terrorism and are complementary to technical means at national level.

FACIL will continue to cover all aspects related to the "response to illicit incidents involving nuclear material". Close cooperation with other Actions (of complementary nature, in particular at ITU and IRMM) will contribute to establish a comprehensive approach comprising aspects of detection and response. This includes a) the development of conceptual approaches for formulating and implementing national response plans, b) the research and development in technical nuclear forensics methodologies and c) the application of forensics techniques for investigative case work. The collaboration with national authorities (such as law enforcement, regulatory, radiation protection) and international organisations (such as the IAEA, Europol, Interpol) will be further strengthened. This scientific/technical work is encompassed by appropriate training activities. Training will gain increasingly in importance and this will be reflected in the Annual Work Programme.

Complementarities and synergies with other actions within the Institute and in other Institutes are exploited; the respective collaborative and coordination efforts are described hereafter. The issue of reference materials for nuclear forensics will be addressed jointly with 53102 (METRO) , this comprises the definition, production ad certification of reference materials. Web-based tools for nuclear security applications and appropriate training will continue to be developed, this includes specific nuclear security related training courses for NUCLEONICA and the development of calculational modules and simulation tools. Training in nuclear security will be coordinated with 53201 (NUSIM), this includes the starting implementation of a European Nuclear Security Training Center at ITU. The development and improvement of nuclear forensics analysis techniques will benefit from expertise available in the actions 53108 (NTAS), 52201 (SCNF), 51210 (ANFC) and 51301 (FAR), resulting in joint publications.