Mr. Chairman,

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

The European Union would like to thank the Director General for his report contained in document GOV/2022/2 on the "Nuclear Technology Review 2022".

Mr. Chairman,

Nuclear science and technologies are one of the drivers for improved health and prosperity and improved living standards for people.  The EU and its Member States are working with the Agency ’’to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world’’, in accordance with the Statute. In the run up to the 10^th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), planned to take place this year, the EU recalls that this treaty has established a solid, rigorous and successful framework for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Adherence to and full implementation of that treaty is the bedrock to this success. We commend the contribution the IAEA makes in the context of Article IV of the NPT.

The European Union acknowledges the need to ensure energy security at affordable cost and respects the right of Member States to decide on their energy mix and choose the most appropriate technologies to collectively achieve the 2030 climate target. The EU takes note of the preparation by the Secretariat of the 5^th International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21^st Century, to be held from 26-28 October 2022, in Washington D.C.

When using nuclear technology, the firm compliance with international legal instruments, IAEA safety standards, security guidelines and safeguards requirements is essential. We strongly encourage all Member States to make use of the IAEA peer reviews and advisory services, and to publish the findings and to timely implement the recommended actions.

The DG's report states that “the same national nuclear power infrastructure is needed, with the same constant strict attention to nuclear safety, nuclear security and safeguards requirements, whether the programme is based on large NPPs or SMRs” and that “many Member States made tangible progress in SMR technology development for near term deployment”. The report also outlines the progress in the area of non-electric applications of nuclear power. International collaboration and exchange of information on such programmes should aim to ensure that their development is accompanied by the highest standards of safety and security as well as a strong regulatory framework, and that it is economically and environmentally viable. We attach importance to the Agency-wide platform on SMRs launched last year and renew our call to the Department of Energy to provide more information to Member States on the platform, including on how it will ensure a cross-departmental approach We welcome the IAEA’s new framework for the development of comprehensive and safety ambitious generic user requirements and criteria (GURC) for SMR design and technology. We attach importance to the IAEA’s work on the legal and institutional aspects of transportable nuclear power plants, including filling the gaps identified in international nuclear law.

As nuclear power plants and research reactors worldwide are increasingly operating for longer timeframes, timely and adequate implementation of measures related to ageing management and long-term operation as well as reasonably practicable safety improvements, are of growing importance. We encourage the Agency’s efforts in this field and look forward to continuing discussions on these issues including within the framework of the Convention on Nuclear Safety. In this connection, we appreciate the activities of the Agency which support continued operation of research reactors.

Important decommissioning projects are underway in the EU. The efforts of the Agency to build on existing experience and deepen the understanding of all aspects of decommissioning programmes are extremely valuable. Projects aiming at the deep geological disposal of high level radioactive waste are also progressing in several EU Member States. The EU highlights the importance to continue discussions on these issues, including within the framework of the Joint Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

The EU acknowledges the major contribution of nuclear techniques in the health sector, and the important role of the IAEA in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, not only in terms of rapid detection and management, but also in support of the operation, safety and security of nuclear and radiation facilities and activities. We welcome the efforts made to respond to Member States needs in this context and the activities undertaken to strengthen capacity and science to enhance health systems, including capacities to address infectious diseases. In this context, the EU welcomes the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) project. We continue to follow the practical developments of the initiative and look forward to receiving further information from the Secretariat on its activities, including those undertaken in coordination with other relevant international organizations. We encourage regular reporting to Member States, in accordance with resolution GC/(65)/RES/11.

We appreciate the IAEA’s work related to the applications of accelerators and research reactors in environmental studies and cultural heritage characterisation, among others, which are examples of the societal relevance and impact of nuclear technologies. We welcome advances made in the field of nuclear medicine. These technologies are indispensable in the fight against cancer and contribute significantly to all stages of cancer patients’ care. In this context, the EU welcomes the recent launch of the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative. We also welcome the activities contributing to mitigating the persistence and transport of antibiotics and implications on antimicrobial resistance in the environment and in food.

We equally appreciate very much the IAEA’s work on innovative radiation technologies and isotopic tracing techniques for marine monitoring and recycling to deal with plastic pollution. In particular, the EU welcomes the launch of the NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) initiative.

The completion of the final stage of the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories project – ReNuAl2 is key to meet the growing and evolving demands of Member States in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. We commend the resource mobilization efforts of the Secretariat in this area and encourage Member States in a position to do so to support this effort.

Finally, Mr. Chairman,

The EU strongly supports the Agency’s activities in supporting Member States in their efforts to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as its commitment to contribute to tackling climate change. In that respect, we support IAEA activities to enhance knowledge on mitigation strategies through carbon sequestration, known as blue carbon, as well as the IAEA’s participation in the COP26 in Glasgow. We welcome the IAEA’s planned contribution to the COP27 scheduled for 7-18 November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Looking to the future, we continue our involvement in fusion research, in particular through our support to the ITER and DEMO projects, and we welcome further cooperation with the Agency.

With these comments, we support the recommended Board action set forth in GOV/2022/2.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

^§ Candidate Country

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

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