Conference on Disarmament - Lines to Take on Subsidiary Bodies

Madam President,

The EU welcomes the adoption of the decision on the Work of the Conference on Disarmament for 2022, which establishes five subsidiary bodies to advance the substantive work on all agenda items of the Conference.

We commend the coordinators of the subsidiary bodies on core agenda items 1 to 4 for undertaking this role and for their determination and engagement. We are looking forward to working with these coordinators and pledge our support and constructive approach.

The EU also supports the establishment of the subsidiary body on agenda items 5, 6 and 7 and takes note of the appointment of its coordinator from Belarus.

In this regard, let me reiterate that the EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the involvement of Belarus in the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

Madam President,

The CD remains the world’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating body. Its continued relevance and effective functioning is of utmost importance for the EU. Resuming long overdue disarmament negotiations is a central aim for the EU in this forum.

We expect that the respective subsidiary body discussions will contribute to increased understanding and trust among delegations and pave the way to resume negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament, in line with its mandate. This must be done through a result-oriented and targeted discussion. All subsidiary bodies must adopt a single, coherent and consistent approach. At the same time, we must ensure continuity and build on previous understandings achieved in past years as reflected in relevant reports on specific issues adopted in the CD. Furthermore, whatever the outcome of these discussions, they should also be available for reference in the future.

We must also take into account the brutal deterioration of our security environment since the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which has a direct bearing on our work at the CD, on all agenda items.

Madam President,

Let me reiterate that while the EU and its Member States are ready to launch substantive work on all core items, the EU’s longstanding priority in the CD is to immediately commence negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices (FMCT) and we support starting such negotiations in accordance with the document CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. We call on all States to contribute to facilitating the long-overdue negotiations on an FMCT. We could advance our understanding further by building on substantial progress on possible definitions, scope, verification, and legal and institutional arrangements of such a treaty made in last years through the Group of Governmental Experts and the High Level FMCT Expert Preparatory Group.