CEA Internationals cooperations

For more information about CEA internationnal cooperation look at CEA website

This covers all the instruments set up over the years to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons : treaties, IAEA safeguards system, control systems for "sensitive exports". Nuclear non proliferation is based on two major treaties :

• the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),
• the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
  
  

Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

CEA takes part in preparing the review conferences of the Treaty for the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and in negotiations aimed to ensure that it is correctly applied. In addition, in its capacity as French representative to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and under the comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), CEA is responsible for the technical aspects of the treaty's application. Within this context, CEA experts helped to define the network of 321 monitoring stations , taking into account the detectability of events and the technologies used. Furthermore, in accordance with French undertakings, CEA must install 16 monitoring stations on French soil and, under cooperation agreements with other countries, build nine other stations abroad.

Lastly, it is responsible for the maintenance of the stations and training the personnel working in them. The CEA gathers and analyzes data received by the International Data Center in Vienna, Austria.
The International Monitoring System (IMS) is a vital scientific tool that reaches beyond the scope of the CTBT. In particular, it finds other applications, for example, in earthquake warning systems and in detecting volcanic eruptions.

Controlling sensitive exports

CEA is directly involved in international negotiations relating to the control of sensitive exports. Countries currently or potentially supplying nuclear goods and technologies have set up two working groups, in which CEA takes part, to define criteria for controlling the export of certain sensitive goods and technologies to prevent their diversion for nuclear weapon proliferation purposes:

• The Nuclear Exporters Committee (or "Zangger Committee") now groups together 35 countries.
• The Nuclear Suppliers Group includes 44 Member States plus the European Commission as permanent observer; These groups issue directives and define lists of goods subject to export control. CEA takes part in the activities of both these committees and offers its expertise in this field at the French government's request.