Mr. Chairman,

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

We would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the chairmanship of this working group and assure you of our full support.

The EU reaffirms its unequivocal support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the NPT and an important element in the development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes in accordance with Article IV of the NPT. The EU reiterates its unwavering support for the safeguarding and strengthening of the nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control architecture. We are firmly convinced that a multilateral and treaty-based approach provides the best way to maintain and reinforce international peace and security.

We would like to stress once again that Ukraine acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapon State in 1994, having returned Soviet-era nuclear weapons and having received security guarantees. There is no doubt that Ukraine is in full compliance with its obligations under the NPT. Let me recall that, in accordance with the Budapest Memorandum, Russia explicitly committed to “respecting the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine” and to “refrain from the threat or use of force” against the country. With its military invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to blatantly violate the Budapest Memorandum to the detriment of the NPT regime. The Russian Federation must guarantee unequivocal security assurances as part of binding and agreed security arrangements. The loss of credibility of a nuclear weapon state on security assurances seriously undermines the NPT regime and the entire disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. Likewise, threats of use of nuclear weapons are unacceptable, provocative, dangerous and escalatory. At the beginning of this year, the Russian Federation committed to the prevention of nuclear war and avoiding arms races and reaffirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. In the interest of all humanity, the Russian Federation must heed its commitments and cease this nuclear brinkmanship and blackmail.

Mr. Chairman,

The EU strongly supports all three pillars of the NPT and will continue to promote comprehensive, balanced and substantive full implementation of the 2010 Review Conference Action Plan. We stress the need to implement all obligations under the NPT, and commitments during previous Review Conferences, including the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of Article VI, with the ultimate goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons. We are resolved to seek a safer and more secure world for all in accordance with the goals of the Treaty in a way that promotes international stability, peace and security. The EU welcomes the engagement by EU Member States to mobilize political will and promote implementation of the goals of the NPT through various initiatives during the current NPT review cycle, such as the Stockholm Initiative.

The EU is committed to advance nuclear disarmament, in accordance with Article VI of the NPT, especially through the overall reduction in the global stockpile of nuclear weapons, and taking into account the special responsibility of the States that possess the largest nuclear arsenals. In view of the current developments and Russian irresponsible behaviour, this must be pursued with the highest urgency.

The EU notes the very severe consequences associated with nuclear weapons use and emphasises that all States share the responsibility to prevent such an occurrence from happening.

At the same time, the EU reiterates its call for intensified dialogue, including on strategic stability, increased transparency and confidence building measures by the nuclear weapon States to promote further progress in disarmament. The EU calls on Russia to abstain from any steps that would risk further escalating tensions and undermine the significant reductions achieved after the end of the Cold War.

The EU stresses the need for concrete work on strategic and nuclear risk reduction, and therefore the urgent need for all States concerned to discuss, agree and implement practical measures to that end.

Furthermore, we reaffirm the value of multilateral cooperation in advancing nuclear disarmament verification. In this regard, the EU welcomes the convening of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) to consider the role of nuclear verification in advancing nuclear disarmament. We also welcome the contribution of practical cooperation such as the Quad Nuclear Verification Partnership and practical exercises, such as the Belgian exercise regarding the plutonium measurement methods, the Franco-German Nuclear Disarmament Verification (NuDiVe) exercise as well as the research and demonstration on high explosive detection methods carried out by the Netherlands, within the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) format. While verification is not an end in itself, further development of the international cooperation on nuclear disarmament verification instruments would assist in the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons.

Likewise, the EU considers the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to be of crucial importance to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and its entry into force is a top priority and remains a political imperative for the Union. We call on all States that have not yet done so, in particular those listed in Annex II, to sign and ratify the CTBT without preconditions or further delay. The EU also calls on all States to abide by the moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosion, and to refrain from any action contrary to the object and purpose of the Treaty.

The EU and its Member States have been in the forefront of international efforts to achieve a non-discriminatory and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. We continue to call for immediate commencement and early conclusion of such negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament and we support starting such negotiations in accordance with document CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. The FMCT is a crucial step to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

In the current security environment marked by highest tensions and serious proliferation crises and challenges, renewed efforts must be pursued in the area of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. The EU calls on all States concerned to abstain from any steps that would risk further escalating tensions and undermine the significant reductions achieved after the end of the Cold War. A new nuclear arms race must be avoided.

Thank you for your attention.