EU Statement on AUKUS as delivered under agenda item 9 (AOB) at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on 10 March 2022.

Mr. Chairman,

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

Mr. Chairman,

The IAEA safeguards system is an indispensable component of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The EU strongly supports the IAEA’s verification role under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the strengthening of the IAEA’s safeguards system. We continue to call for the universalisation of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements together with the Additional Protocol as the current verification standard, and we encourage all States to support this objective at the upcoming NPT Review Conference.

The EU is of the view that the objectives of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime are best served by the IAEA through the full, impartial, independent and objective implementation of safeguards. It is important that full consideration be given to any proliferation implications and risks.

In this regard, the EU takes note of the statements made by Australia, the UK and the USA that maintaining the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime would be their core objective and that the parties are mindful of any safeguards-related precedents in the context of Australia’s acquisition of nuclear powered submarines. We welcome their stated commitment to a high standard of international assurances and fulfilling their respective Agency obligations. We also support the Director General’s statement in this connection that, while working with the interested parties on this complex, technical matter, he will be “solely guided by the Agency’s statutory mandate and Australia’s safeguards agreement”.

We take note that a specific task force has been set up in the IAEA Secretariat and that a first technical meeting has already taken place to give consideration to the application of relevant provisions of the safeguards agreements of the parties to this matter. Close cooperation from the outset between the Secretariat and the concerned parties is necessary and strongly encouraged. Any arrangement must be implemented in conformity with and in a way that will not compromise the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the respective legally binding safeguards obligations.

As discussed last November, we understand that the IAEA Director General will keep the Board informed of all aspects relevant for the IAEA’s mandate, in particular on the work of the AUKUS task force as it develops. The EU trusts the independent, impartial and professional work of the IAEA Secretariat also on this matter and that the IAEA Director General will ensure a transparent process. Therefore, we do not consider it necessary to establish parallel structures such as the proposal by one country on a new open-ended discussion forum. Nor do we consider it necessary or timely to add a new item on the Board agenda.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

* Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania as well as potential Candidate Country 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.