Following discussions within the Nuclear Energy Agency's Nuclear Science Committee (NEANSC) and its Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC), it has became clear that a vehicle to promote international collaboration in the field of experimental nuclear data was urgently needed, mainly due to a dramatic decrease of resources available for these activities in member countries. This view of the situation was fully shared by a group of senior experts that met in May 1993 at NEA. The conclusions of this group have been published in a NEA report entitled "A Strategic View on Nuclear Data Needs".
The NEA Nuclear Science Committee has, following these recommendations, set up a Working Party on International Measurement Activities (WPMA). The objective of this Working Party is to co-ordinate differential nuclear data measurement activities in order to ensure an efficient use of the remaining resources. The measurement program is defined by the needs of the NEANSC Working Party on International Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC), as stated in its High Priority Request List. The WPMA holds yearly meetings since the first meeting at the NEA Headquarters in Paris on 16 May 1995.
One of the activities of the WPMA is to issue, on a yearly basis, a "Newsletter on International Nuclear Data Measurement Activities", as a means of information exchange between laboratories active in the field. The newsletter is also directed towards scientists engaged in nuclear data evaluation and applications, especially those working within the frame of the WPEC. The present document is the third issue of this newsletter.