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⁺, Liechtenstein⁺, Norway⁺, and San Marino

The EU would like to thank the Director General for his report GOV/2023/45 on the Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East.

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 weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East. We regret that it has not been possible to achieve consensus on a final outcome document at the 10^th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which would have again underlined the importance of achieving the objectives of the 1995 NPT Resolution on the Middle East. We consider the 1995 Resolution valid until its goals and objectives are achieved and strongly support the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference on the Middle East. We believe that the path for action as set out in the 2010 Action Plan remains the most promising basis on which to proceed.

As stated before, the EU is of the view that such zones can only be established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at, and taking into account the security interests of all the States of the region concerned, in accordance with the international guidelines and principles for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free-zones.

The EU is encouraged by the outcomes of the three UN Conferences on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.  We strongly encourage all stakeholders, and especially the States of the region, to engage in meaningful consultations in order to build an inclusive and consensus-based process towards the implementation of the 1995 NPT Resolution.

The EU has continuously expressed its readiness to assist in the process and help produce a conducive atmosphere. The EU continues to provide substantive 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. A well-attended and received EU side event in the margins of the recent First Preparatory Committee for the 11^th NPT Review Conference highlighted the achievements of this UNIDIR project and next steps.

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