The work in the field of negative ions at Cadarache aims at a coherent D−beam development in view of the needs of future magnetic fusion experiments. An overview of recent activities is first given: (i) during the recent collaboration with JAERI, 2.2 A, 100 keV, D−long pulse beams have been produced and extensively studied at Cadarache; (ii) the production of negative ions from the Pagoda source is now under study; (iii) two important ITER NB related studies have been conducted, the conceptual study of a 1 MV, 15 A power supply and the design of a 1 MV, 4 A D−beamline and test bed. The future experimental studies, which constitute the main elements of the European strategy in neutral beam development for magnetic fusion applications are the following: (i) the application for financial support in EC has been made for a 1 MeV 0.1 A D−beam acceleration experiment, which is projected to be carried out in 1994; (ii) a new test bed MANTIS for multi‐ampere D−source development will also be established, constituted mainly from equipments previously used on the former DRAGON experiment at Culham Laboratory. This source test bed will operate independently of the present test bed, which is to be upgraded for high‐voltage operation.