EU Statement on the occasion of the sixty-sixth session of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
Chair,
We thank the Executive Secretary for his comprehensive reports and express our support for the recommendations contained in the reports of Working Groups A and B, as well as of the Advisory Group. We congratulate you, Chair, for your new position and also wish to express our appreciation for your intensive efforts and consultations and to the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) for the timely preparations of this Session and the briefing provided on Friday, 12 June.
The CTBT’s universalisation and entry into force remain a priority for the EU. We urge all States that have not yet done so, in particular the remaining Annex 2 States, to sign and ratify the CTBT without any preconditions or further delay. In the meantime, it is crucial for international peace and security that all States fully observe the moratorium on nuclear test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, and refrain from any action contrary to the object and purpose of the Treaty. We take note of statements expressing concerns about possible nuclear weapons explosive testing. These statements have to be considered with the greatest care and seriousness. We call on all States without exception to continue to honour their engagements, including those undertaken during the NPT Review Processes.
We reiterate our full confidence in the CTBT’s verification regime, which has demonstrated its ability to provide independent and reliable data and constitutes a strong preventive measure against testing.
The EU condemns the DPRK’s unlawful and destabilising actions that undermine regional and international peace and security. The EU urges the DPRK to abandon its existing nuclear weapons programmes and comply with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions to refrain from testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Any nuclear test must be met with a swift, united, and robust international response. We urge the DPRK to sign and ratify the CTBT without any preconditions or further delay. The EU stands ready to support any meaningful diplomatic process and is committed to working with all relevant partners to build a basis for sustainable peace and security and take steps aimed at pursuing complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We express our deep concern about Russia’s disturbing shift of position since 2024 on the DPRK’s denuclearisation.
As the current security environment is already marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we resolutely condemn Russia’s continuing illegal military cooperation with the DPRK, in flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and call on both countries to cease immediately these activities.
Chair,
It is crucial for the wider Organisation’s financial health, that all States demonstrate their commitment and honour their legal obligations by paying their assessed contributions on time and in full. The EU urges all States Signatories without exception to pay their outstanding contributions and arrears without further delay.
We underline the importance of programmatic activities being adequately implemented and continued. We share the Advisory Group concern regarding the impact of the approved Zero Nominal Growth (ZNG) budget for 2026-2027 on programmatic activities, notably International Monitoring System (IMS) sustainment. The long-term sustainability of the IMS is a priority for the EU. At the same time, we stress the need to address the current financial situation and we would like to ask the Provisional Technical Secretariat to continue to share its contingency plans and present to the Preparatory Commission how it intends to address it. As stated in Working Group A, the EU supported the 2027 Budget update presented by the Provisional Technical Secretariat. Working Group A called for an updated version and we stand ready to contribute constructively to a discussion at an early date with a view to reaching consensus on the 2027 budget.
The EU continues to support CTBTO monitoring and verification activities through Council Decisions. Since 2006, the voluntary contributions of the EU amounted to more than 36 million EURO in support of the CTBT verification regime and capacity-building for developing countries in all geographic regions. This reflects the very strong commitment of the EU and its Member States to the Treaty and its implementation. We welcome the sustained efforts of the PTS towards gender equality and equitable geographical representation, including towards equal representation within its staff and towards the promotion of the participation of women in capacity-building activities. Present and past EU funding directly support these goals.
Chair,
We regret that, once again, no nomination for the position of Vice-Chair of this Preparatory Commission has been submitted on behalf of the Middle East and South Asia Regional Group, and invite all regional groups to submit nominations. We support the nomination of Ms Tebogo Gladness Matlou for a second mandate as Vice-Chair of Working Group B. We also take note of nominations for the Advisory Group and of the nominations made for the Commission on the Staff Pension Committee and encourage States Signatories to put forward nominations for the remaining position of alternate representative.
The EU welcomes the appointment by the Executive Secretary of Mr Joseph Sidari as the new Director for Human Resources Services in the Provisional Technical Secretariat, for a period of three years.
In conclusion, Chair,
We assure you of the EU’s full support and cooperation in bringing this meeting to a successful completion, and stress that the Report of this Session should be concise and factual, focusing on operative outcomes.
The EU welcomes the support expressed for the CTBT during the NPT Review Conference in New York this year. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Treaty, let us renew our efforts for the promotion of its entry into force. We look forward to a high level participation of States Signatories in the meeting of the Friends of the CTBT in New York, during the UN General Assembly this autumn.
Thank you.