Chair,

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

We thank Director General Grossi for his briefing and for his latest report to the Board (GOV/2023/30) on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. We welcome his continuing tireless efforts since our last meeting, notably his briefing to the UN Security Council on 30 May 2023 on the establishment of five concrete principles to help ensure nuclear safety and security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), as illegally seized by the Russian Federation.

The EU fully supports the IAEA’s important work to assist Ukraine in maintaining nuclear safety and security, and to implement safeguards pursuant to Ukraine’s safeguards obligations. It is crucial that any action taken with regard to the ZNPP is done in full respect of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and in accordance with international law. The five principles established by the Director General are a welcome development to help ensure nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP and they should be supported by the Board.  In light of consensus on the need to avoid a nuclear accident that would have severe consequences for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, as well as wider global reverberations, we note the Director General’s view that these five principles now need to be consolidated and implemented. We request further regular briefings and reporting to the Board of Governors on the implementation of these principles to facilitate appropriate follow-up in the IAEA policy-making bodies.

In this context and beyond, the monitoring carried out by the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia (ISAMZ) remains indispensable. We strongly support and commend the IAEA’s continued presence at all Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and stress the need for regular rotation of experts and their access to all locations without hindrance. We also commend the Agency for its preparation of a new programme of medical assistance to Ukrainian operating personnel at NPPs in support of their health and well-being.

The EU and its Member States have supported the IAEA’s work through funding the IAEA missions and equipment, in addition to significant bilateral assistance to Ukraine. We would appreciate further information from the Secretariat on the status of voluntary contributions and the remaining funding needs. Our experts also participate in the ongoing work with respect to the Agency safety standards and nuclear security guidance in order to determine whether there is a need for changes or additional guidance in armed conflict situations.

As reported by the Director General, the nuclear safety and security situation at the ZNPP continues to be extremely fragile and dangerous, with all of the Seven Pillars being compromised at all times. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, most recently the Kakhovka dam, leading to its destruction and putting at serious risk the safety and security systems at the ZNPP. We are extremely concerned over the increased military activity and presence at the ZNPP and the takeover of its operational control by the Russian Federation. We echo the Director General’s great concern about the disconnection on 17 May of the automatic data transfer from radiation monitoring stations located near the ZNPP to Ukrainian authorities, which is one more step in the illegal takeover of the ZNPP. The risks to off-site power, staff and maintenance are high and growing. Also other Ukraine’s nuclear power plants are impacted because of the challenging circumstances for their operating staff and Russia’s frequent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure which threaten external power supply or grid stability. Only Russia is responsible for this situation that raises significantly the risk of a nuclear accident.

Chair,

The EU and its Member States will never recognise Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Ukraine’s territories or seize Ukraine’s ZNPP. While we continue to support the role of the IAEA and applaud the Ukrainian staff who tirelessly continue their work under very difficult conditions and “undue pressure”, there is only one sustainable solution to overcome the present nuclear safety and security threats: The Russian Federation must urgently end its war of aggression against Ukraine and immediately and completely withdraw its troops and all other Russian personnel from the ZNPP and return control to its rightful owner, Ukraine.

Once again, we demand that the Russian Federation heed the Board’s Resolutions, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its armed forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Until this happens, the EU will continue to condemn Russia’s war of aggression in the strongest terms. We will hold Russia accountable for its gross violations of international law and the principles of the UN Charter and the Statute of the Agency.

The EU will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Thank you, Chair

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

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