EU Statement on Cluster II regional issues, including with respect to the Middle East and implementation of the 1995 Middle East resolution (7 August 2023)

Chair,

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

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 zone free of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East. We consider the 1995 NPT Resolution valid until its goals and objectives are achieved and strongly support the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference on the Middle East.

The EU notes the three “UN Conferences on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction” and is encouraged by their outcomes. The EU recalls that, as stated in the 2010 NPT Review Conference Action Plan, such zones can only be established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at between, and taking into account the security interests of all States of the region concerned. We therefore strongly encourage all stakeholders, and especially the States of the region, to engage in meaningful consultations and work towards the implementation of the 1995 NPT Resolution. The path for action as set out in the 2010 Action Plan remains the most promising basis on which to proceed.

Furthermore, the EU continues to call on all States in the region, which have not yet done so, to accede to and abide by the NPT, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and to bring into force Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocols and, as applicable, to rescind or modify the Small Quantities Protocol to their NPT Safeguards Agreements with the IAEA. Universal subscription to The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missiles Proliferation would also contribute to regional confidence building, which is necessary for progress towards a Middle East WMD free zone.

The EU continues to stand ready to assist in the process and help produce a conducive atmosphere. In this regard, the EU provides significant funding to the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) on a process of confidence-building leading to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East. During phase I of the project, work on a common narrative contributed to mapping various steps towards the zone taken in the past. Several meetings brought regional actors together for constructive discussions on the zone and its future. During phase II, which will also be funded by the EU, work will focus on deepening understanding of regional issues, building regional capacities and supporting technical and legal aspects related to the implementation of the zone. An EU side event in the margins of this NPT PrepCom highlighted the achievements of this UNIDIR project and next steps.

The EU Centres of Excellence established in Jordan, Algeria, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates also assist the Middle East region to mitigate CBRN risks and contribute to enhanced capacity building in the region and cooperation between these States.

Thank you, Chair.

* Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, 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.