EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on Australia's Naval Nuclear Propulsion, as delivered on 20 November 2024

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]  and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

The EU would like to thank the Director General for his report.

We note the ongoing bilateral discussions between Australia and the IAEA on legal and technical aspects, with the aim to develop a safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion programme. This will include an arrangement under Article 14 of Australia’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.

We welcome that Australia has provided to the Agency the required information under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol. The Agency has been able to conduct verification activities in Australia, as well as a transparency visit. Discussions are continuing on technical aspects, structure and content of the Article 14 arrangement and on ways to facilitate possible verification and monitoring activities, including voluntary transparency measures.

Further to the reporting by the Director General, we appreciate the information provided by the AUKUS parties and their commitment to the highest non-proliferation standard. It is of utmost importance that the AUKUS partnership is implemented in line with the parties’ respective international obligations.

Chair,  

The EU attaches great importance to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We have a full confidence in the work of the IAEA as the competent body to ensure the full, impartial, independent and objective implementation of safeguards. We expect that all IAEA Board members respect the Secretariat’s mandate and its right to engage on safeguards and verification matters with the concerned Member States.

The EU looks forward to the IAEA Board taking appropriate action once the Article 14 arrangement is finalised. In the meantime, we encourage the fullest possible transparency and reporting from the IAEA Director General, as appropriate.

Thank you, Chair.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.