Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, Georgia, Iceland⁺, Norway⁺, Andorra and San Marino.

Let me start by warmly welcoming Ireland as the new Chair for 2023 to 2024 and expressing our appreciation to Ambassador Umar for his work, undertaken during Nigeria’s HCoC chairmanship. We also thank Austria for its efficient support to the Code as the Immediate Central Contact (ICC) in Vienna.

Chair,

The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of international law - including the UN Charter - and undermines international peace and security. Russia's brutal war has brought immense suffering and destruction to Ukraine and its people. We remain deeply concerned over Russia’s campaign of systematic missile flights and drone strikes against civilians and civilian targets in Ukraine. We demand that Russia immediately cease its military actions, unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders.

Chair,

On 22 November 2022, the HCoC marked its 20th anniversary. After two decades of existence, the Code has become an important transparency and confidence-building measure and is all the more important to international security. The HCoC is the only multilateral instrument aiming at both preventing ballistic missile proliferation and increasing transparency about ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles of the Subscribing States. Subscribing States should continue to preserve the integrity of the Code and act according to its non-proliferation objectives.

The EU reaffirms its strong support for the HCoC by actively promoting its universalisation, full implementation and efficient functioning. We call on all UN Member States that have not yet done so, to subscribe to the Code. We welcome the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of a new bi-annual Resolution in support of the Hague Code of Conduct, on 22  December 2022, and encourage all UN Member States to support and vote in favour of the next HCoC Resolution during the 79^th Session of the UNGA in 2024.

Since 2008, the EU has continued to provide significant political and financial support for the Code, through various outreach events, regional seminars and expert missions, and research papers, in cooperation with the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS). On 17 January 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted its fifth Decision (CFSP 2023/124) in support of HCoC, allocating more than one million EURO for actions in support of the universalisation, full implementation and enhancement of the Code and ballistic missile non-proliferation.

Chair,

The EU remains gravely concerned by the continued proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, in particular the pursuit by several countries of concern of ballistic missile programmes in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. We call for the immediate dismantlement of such programmes, which are a source of mistrust and contribute to regional instability.

Since our last meeting, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has launched different types of ballistic and cruise missiles in unprecedented numbers, most recently with the launch of a solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on 13 April as well as the attempted satellite launch using ballistic military technology on 31 May. It has continued to make references to the possible use of nuclear weapons. The EU condemns all of the illegal missile launches, each one of which constituted a grave violation of its obligations under multiple UN Security Council resolutions and a threat to international and regional peace and security.

Further launches, including of a military satellite, short-range systems designed to deliver weapons of mass destruction or additional intercontinental ballistic missiles, especially on a normal trajectory would mark a dangerous escalation. It is critical that the international community responds in an appropriate manner. The EU urges all UN Member States, especially Members of the Security Council, to ensure that the Security Council responds in an appropriate manner to deter further illegal launches. The DPRK must abandon its weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles and related programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. The EU urges the DPRK to resume dialogue with the main parties involved and remains ready to support any new diplomatic process aimed at the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

With regard to Iran, the European Union and its Member States reaffirm their commitment to, and continued support for, the full and effective implementation of a restored Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The EU will continue to invest diplomatically to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. The EU calls on all countries to support the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015).

The EU strongly condemns and considers unacceptable any type of Iran’s military support, including UAVs, to Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU also condemns Iran’s continued destabilising activities in and around the Middle East, which include Iran’s activities with ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, and transfers of such advanced weaponry to state and non-state actors. These activities are inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), notably its Annex B, which calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic technology. Such activity, including using space launch vehicles, could pave the way for the development of long-range or intercontinental ballistic missiles. We urge Iran to cease all these activities and fully abide by UNSCR 2231 (2015).

Since 2012, the Syrian regime has launched numerous ballistic missiles. The Syrian activities related to missile technology, possibly with technical and financial support of third countries and the resulting proliferation of missile technology from Syrian soil to non-state actors in the region should be a source of concern for the international community.

These developments in countries that are currently not subscribing to the Hague Code of Conduct only further highlight the importance of universalization of the Code, which we will continue to promote though various activities funded under the EU Council Decision.

Let me conclude Chair, by assuring you of the European Union’s full support and cooperation for the issuance of a communiqué by this Annual Regular Meeting, which should help to increase awareness and mobilise further international support for the HCoC.

Thank you.

* Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland and Norway are members of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.