Déclarations

First session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the N.P.T.
- Cluster III -

Mr. Chairman,

1. Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) establishes the inalienable right of all States Parties to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II as well as Article III of the Treaty. To take advantage of the possibilities that exist in this area, the States Parties are called on to cooperate. It should be stated unequivocally in this context that any possibility of improper use of civilian nuclear programmes for nuclear military purposes must be effectively excluded.

Mr. Chairman,

2. The peaceful nuclear activities and cooperation in this area are strongly related to the non-proliferation obligations that arise from the Treaty.

3. The European Union recalls the conditions laid down by the NPT for the exercise of the right to use nuclear energy. These conditions are the observance of non-proliferation commitments, the implementation of IAEA safeguards and the pursuit, in accordance with the good-faith principle, of peaceful purposes.

4. The European Union is strongly committed to the objectives of Article IV. Through multilateral and bilateral programmes it encourages the many peaceful and beneficial applications of nuclear technology. One of the most important instruments for the purposes of peaceful nuclear development is the Technical Cooperation programme of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which the Union fully supports, especially as regards the needs of the States Parties in terms of development and the benefits they receive from the programme.

5. According to paragraph 19 of the Decision on principles and objectives adopted in 1995, every effort should be made to ensure that the IAEA has the financial and human resources necessary in order to meet effectively its responsibilities in the areas of technical cooperation. The 27 Member States of the EU collectively make an important contribution to the Agency’s budget and provide a significant proportion of the voluntary contributions to its Cooperation Fund.

6. The EU works closely with the IAEA Secretariat and the other States Parties in implementing a programme on established and emerging nuclear techniques, such as the "sterile insect technique" in Africa, Latin America and the Mediterranean region, and landmine detection techniques, which we hope will contribute to our efforts to eradicate this evil in mine-affected post-conflict areas. We also support the research being done into the possibility of using the sterile-insect technique to eradicate malaria, as well as research into the use of nuclear techniques against infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, with the aim of improving health, food security and economic development in many regions of the world.

7. The EU encourages the IAEA to continue its efforts by applying the methodology described below to resolve the problems that exist in the various priority areas of cooperation:

1. model projects based on demand and needs;

2. national programming frameworks for the process of selecting projects, including a financial contribution in accordance with IAEA rules;

3. thematic planning to ensure a decisive impact on human health, agricultural development, industrial applications, radiological protection, self-sufficiency and sustainability;

4. the adoption of projects that meet the central criterion of the IAEA Strategy.

Mr. Chairman,

8. The EU welcomes the increasing importance that the IAEA programmes attach to assisting beneficiary countries to improve the safety of their nuclear facilities, including during the decommissioning phase, as well the safety and security of their nuclear materials and radioactive waste.

9. The EU encourages the IAEA to continue education and training programmes that will contribute to the updating of nuclear knowledge so as to meet the needs of both developing and developed countries.

10. The EU is closely following the development of innovative projects in the field of reactors and nuclear fuel cycles, which could lead in particular to the establishment of new approaches to the fundamental issues, namely safety, non-proliferation and the minimisation of radioactive waste. The Union approves the IAEA's role in helping Member States, at their request, to draw up projects inter alia in the area of production of electricity, industry, health, agriculture and research.

11. The EU welcomes the work currently being done by the IAEA and its Member States to improve the safety and security of radioactive sources, including the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.

12. The EU calls upon all States to sign and ratify the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in its amended version as soon as possible and underlines the importance of this Convention also with regard of the prevention of nuclear terrorism.

13. The European Union stresses the importance of the Convention of Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety Radioactive Waste Management, and also their peer-review mechanism. The Union calls on all States Parties that have not yet done so to accede to these Conventions and to apply their resulting obligations in full.

14. States Parties that have not yet done so are invited either to accede the Vienna Conventions or Paris and Brussels Conventions on civil nuclear liability or to introduce national legislation on civil nuclear liability.

Regarding the transport of radioactive material, the EU emphasises the usefulness of the IAEA’s TranSAS service as a way of helping to promote the strict application of regulations in this field. The EU encourages States to make use of this service.

15. The EU is pleased to note the approval of the IAEA’s Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors.

16. In accordance with the European Union’s Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, decided by our Heads of State and the Government in December 2003, the European Union has taken a series of cooperation measures, which will improve the physical protection of nuclear materials.

Mr. Chairman,

17. Conscious of its obligations under Article IV of the Treaty, the EU is engaged in many technical cooperation programmes, which contributes to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by all States Parties to the Treaty and in particular to the requirements of developing countries.

18. The EU acknowledges the high importance of the security of supply of nuclear fuel for the development of the peaceful use of nuclear energy for those countries which have decided to integrate nuclear energy in their energy mix. The EURATOM Treaty itself gives an example for provisions which shall provide security of supply based on the principle of solidarity.

19. The EU welcomes the efforts of the IAEA to launch the discussion on fuel supply assurances on a multilateral basis. The EU will support the efforts of the IAEA in this regard and welcomes the intention of the IAEA Director General to provide a plan for the future handling of the necessary deliberations. The EU calls upon all States Parties to define their interests and participate in this important discussion.

20. The European Union believes that it is time to take the first concrete steps towards a new approach to the nuclear fuel cycle. A balanced multilateral mechanism would significantly contribute to reducing concerns about proliferation as well as about the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The EU welcomes therefore the proposals made so far for, especially those supported or brought forward by its own Member States. The EU is of the opinion that different proposals are welcomed and might bring solutions for different requirements of security of supply defined by States Parties.

Mr. Chairman,

21. The EU reiterates the importance it attaches to the universalisation of additional protocols and considers that adherence to such protocols should be considered by all States Parties as the essential means of demonstrating that they are fulfilling their non-proliferation obligations under the NPT.

22. The EU considers that comprehensive safeguard agreements and additional protocols now constitute the IAEA verification standard. A decision to this effect during this review cycle would greatly enhance the confidence necessary for more active international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.