EU Statement on the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) delivered in Vienna on 29 March 2022
EU Statement on
Agenda item 10: Statements by Inter-governmental Organizations
2022 Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM)
Vienna, 28 March – 1 April 2022
Excellencies,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Turkey§, the Republic of North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Iceland+, Liechtenstein+, Norway+, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and San Marino.
The unprovoked and unjustified military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has led to a most dangerous situation, also in terms of nuclear security. The EU welcomes the adoption of IAEA Board resolution GOV/2022/17 entitled safety, security and safeguards implications of the situation in Ukraine and calls for its implementation. We underline the importance of the IAEA Director General’s initiative to promote a set of practical commitments to ensure preservation of the seven indispensable pillars of safety and security at all nuclear facilities in Ukraine. We support the DG’s continuing consultations with a view to agreeing on a framework for the delivery of IAEA assistance, in particular to the most affected nuclear installations in Ukraine.
We recall that the preamble of the A/CPPNM specifically refers to the UN Charter requirement that all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations. We also recall the legally binding decision of 16 March 2022 by the International Court of Justice ordering Russia to immediately suspend its military operations in the territory of Ukraine. The continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine constitutes a gross violation of international law and runs contrary to our collective commitment to strengthen the international nuclear security architecture including through universal adherence to and implementation of the A/CPPNM. This aggression once again underlines the urgent need for legally binding international rules specifically prohibiting armed attacks against any nuclear installation devoted to peaceful purposes as called for by IAEA General Conference resolutions GC(XXVII)/RES/407 and GC(XXIX)/RES/444.
EU Member States, as well as EURATOM, are Parties to the Amended Convention, and we call upon all countries that have yet to do so to become Parties without delay and fully implement its provisions. We reaffirm the basic principle that responsibility for nuclear security rests with each individual State. National responsibilities should be complemented and reinforced with bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Such cooperation remains essential to strengthen global nuclear security, given that the consequences of malicious acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material could transcend boundaries. A high level of nuclear security also contributes to ensuring the protection of people and the environment and remains a crucial element in sustaining the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
In this regard, the EU and its Member States reaffirm the importance of the 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Security, which provided consensual policy guidance towards strengthening nuclear security globally.
The EU recognises the IAEA’s central role in providing legislative and technical assistance to States for their adherence to and implementation of the Amended CPPNM and other international instruments in the area of nuclear security. The EU welcomes and supports this work. We encourage IAEA Member States to make use of IAEA’s legislative assistance programme, its peer reviews and advisory services – notably the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) - and to develop an Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP).
Timely, reliable and sufficient resources are essential for the Agency to implement its nuclear security activities, including from the Nuclear Security Fund and Regular Budget. The EU and its Member States are a major donor to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund, with nearly €60 million committed for the period of 2005–2023 through eight successive EU Council Decisions in support of IAEA’s nuclear security activities. We welcome the work of the G7 Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction and encourage further donor coordination also within the IAEA to ensure the efficient use of the existing funds.
Excellencies,
Over the past year, the EU has embarked on a series of diplomatic activities to promote universal adherence to the Amended CPPNM by third countries.
The EU also provides significant financial assistance to the IAEA to promote the Amended Convention. The latest EU Council Decision in support of IAEA nuclear security activities (CFSP 2020/1656 of 6 November 2020) contains a dedicated project for the organisation of international, regional and national workshops and the development of outreach material on the Amended CPPNM. The aim is to build States’ capacities, raise awareness, and encourage further adherence to the Amended Convention.
In the context of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the EU actively supports adherence to and implementation of a number of relevant international instruments that complement and support the objectives of the Amended CPPNM: such as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and its successor resolutions, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) and the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary Guidance. On the latter point, we regret that Board action on the revision of the related formalized information sharing process is pending since September 2020
The EU Nuclear Security Training Centre for detection and response to illicit acts with nuclear and other radioactive materials operated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre has been fully operational since 2013. It has provided ever since important technical support not only to EU Member States, but also to the IAEA and third countries in the field of nuclear detection and forensics, including related trainings. EU Member States also lend their support to the ongoing establishment of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre at Seibersdorf.
The EU Centres of Excellence on Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation (CBRN CoE) build capacities in 62 partner countries in eight regions. For the period 2021-2027, the EU has dedicated €175 million to this programme.
Excellencies,
The EU recalls the importance that it attaches to broad and inclusive participation of stakeholders in international meetings and conferences in order to hear their voices, and benefit from their expertise. Besides the Agency, other relevant international organizations are important partners in the field of nuclear security and we welcome their role in this Conference. Moreover, civil society organisations play a key role in supporting global efforts on nuclear security. We therefore regret that some NGOs were denied access to the Conference and we will resist attempts to politicize their independent work.
As the A/CPPNM is the only legally binding instrument covering physical protection of nuclear material and facilities, the EU and its Member States underline the benefit of holding the next conference no later than six years after this first one. To this end, all 27 EU Member States and EURATOM as Parties to the Amended Convention have submitted their formal requests to the depositary of the convention and call on other States Parties to do likewise.
In conclusion, let me assure you of the full support of the EU and its Member States, in order to ensure the success of this important Conference.
Thank you.
§ Candidate Country
* Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania as well as potential Candidate Country Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
+ Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are members of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.