Conference on Disarmament - SB4 - EU Statement on NSA

European Union Statement in Subsidiary Body 4

Negative Security Assurances

Conference on Disarmament

Geneva, 18 February 2025

Mr. Coordinator, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Republic of Moldova[1] and Georgia as well as the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States reaffirm their strong commitment to the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons, achieved through concrete, verifiable, and effective disarmament measures. The EU recognizes the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in receiving unequivocal security assurances from nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. We further acknowledge the importance of Negative Security Assurances (NSA) in the broader context of international security and nuclear non-proliferation.

Negative Security Assurances are important components of binding and agreed security arrangements, strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, contributing to confidence-building and nuclear disarmament, and enhancing regional and global security. The EU supports efforts to provide such assurances in a manner that strengthens the goals and objectives of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which remains the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with its Article VI, and an important element in the development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes.

The EU recognises that treaty-based assurances are already available to nuclear-weapons-free zones, comprising more than 100 States, and acknowledges the critical role the treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones[2], as well as other similar instruments play in maintaining international and regional security. We encourage nuclear-weapon States to sign and ratify the relevant protocols of the treaties drawn up following the requisite consultations. We emphasize the importance of compliance with all non-proliferation commitments in order to benefit from the assurances.

Mr. Coordinator,

It remains a strategic priority of the EU to support peace and stability in the entire Middle East. The EU reaffirms its full support for the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction and their delivery systems. The EU recalls its commitment to the 2010 NPT Review Conference Action Plan, and to the fact that such zones can only be established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at between all States of the region concerned. The EU reaffirms its readiness to assist the process leading to the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other WMD and their delivery systems, as it has done in the past by facilitating dialogue among States of the region. In addition to specific legislative acts to support UN works in this regard, the EU has provided significant funding to the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) on a process of confidence building, most recently through the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1306 of 26 June 2023. This funding supports a process of confidence-building initiatives within the region, facilitating progress towards the establishment of an effective, verifiable, inclusive, and sustainable ME WMDFZ.

As agreed by the 2010 NPT Review Conference, the Conference on Disarmament should, within the context of an agreed, comprehensive, and balanced program of work, immediately commence discussions on effective international arrangements, to reassure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, to discuss substantively, without limitation, with a view to elaborating recommendations dealing with all aspects of this issue, not excluding an internationally legally-binding instrument. The EU is ready to engage in discussions about future negotiations on Negative Security Assurances. This could be done alongside the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) in the CD. Recent concerning developments, such as Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and threats to use nuclear force in its war of aggression against Ukraine, underscore the importance of strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament architecture with NSA as an integral part thereof.

Full adherence by all nuclear-weapon States to existing obligations and commitments related to security assurances is vitally important. In this regard, the EU condemns Russia’s blatant violations of the Budapest Memorandum, which undermine the credibility of security assurances and pose grave threats to international peace and security. The EU condemns such actions and reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right to self-defense against Russia’s war of aggression.

I thank you, Mr. Coordinator

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

[2] Treaty of Tlatelolco, Treaty of Rarotonga, Treaty of Bangkok, Treaty of Pelindaba, and the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia