Chair,

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

The European Union would like to thank the Director General for his report on the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic, as contained in GOV/2022/41.

The EU takes note of the information that the Agency carried out a physical inventory verification (PIV) at the miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) in Damascus and a PIV at a location outside facilities in Homs in May, as reported by the Director General. We join the Director General’s call in urging the Syrian Arab Republic to cooperate fully with the Agency in connection with unresolved issues related to the Dair Alzour site and three other locations.

The EU remains very concerned that there has been no progress in resolving the long outstanding questions regarding the Dair Alzour site and three other locations. The EU, once again, strongly urges the Syrian Arab Republic to fully comply with the Board of Governors resolution of June 2011, provide the necessary information and cooperation to the IAEA, and conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol as soon as possible.

The EU supports the Director General’s renewed initiative as recorded in his letter dated 16 May 2022, to engage with the Syrian Arab Republic in order to address these outstanding issues. The Syrian Arab Republic needs to follow words with actions and enter into full and constructive cooperation with the Agency.

We regret that the Syrian Arab Republic remains in non-compliance with its Safeguards Agreement since more than 10 years. As discussed most recently during the 10^th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), all cases of non-compliance with safeguards obligations should be resolved in a timely manner and all non-compliance matters be addressed in order to uphold the Treaty’s integrity.

Chair,

The Syrian Arab Republic must be held accountable for its lack of action and urgently remedy this non-compliance. Until the Syrian Arab Republic fully cooperates with the Agency, we request the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed about this issue and maintain this item on the Board agenda.

Thank you, Chair.

§ Candidate Country

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

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