Upholding and strengthening the international non-proliferation and disarmament architecture
The paradigms of both the global and the European security architecture have changed drastically since the beginning of 2022. The international security environment has deteriorated considerably, which has negative implications on peace and security also in other parts of the world. In turn, it has a direct impact on our work in multilateral fora, including on non-proliferation, disarmament and arms export control issues.
In addition to Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Iran’s further development of its nuclear programme are worrisome. The EU would also like to see more transparency from China, especially in light of their rapidly increasing nuclear capabilities. Chinese engagement in support of the rules-based non-proliferation and disarmament order is therefore needed.
The biggest reason of concern is the Russian Federation, a major nuclear power and a Member of the UN Security Council that has invaded its neighbour Ukraine. This illegal, unprovoked and unjustified invasion constitutes a blatant violation of the UN Charter. Russia is using a wide range of conventional weapons as well as cyber- and hybrid attacks. Its deliberate and systematic attacks against the Ukrainian population and critical civilian infrastructure show a devastating tactic that is causing excessive casualties, injury and human suffering. Russia has also seriously violated the security guarantees of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which Ukraine received after renouncing nuclear weapons on its territory after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia is using dangerous rhetoric and repeated threats to use nuclear weapons, and has put civil nuclear infrastructure at risk.
The impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on arms control, disarmament, and the non-proliferation architecture has been significant. It has hampered progress in multilateral efforts on non-proliferation and disarmament – be it at the Conference on Disarmament, at the recent Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference or at the UN General Assembly’s 1st Committee or International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The outcome of the 10th NPT Review Conference in August showed that despite overall constructive discussions, it was not possible to adopt an outcome document due to Russia blocking consensus. The EU deeply regrets that no consensus was reached. Nevertheless, the EU insists on the full implementation of the legally binding obligations enshrined in the NPT and commitments from the past Review Conferences that remain valid.
Russia’s aggression has a significant impact not only on Ukraine but also on the EU’s neighbourhood and EU internal security. It has increased the risk of and the need to prevent diversion, illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms and small arms and light weapons (SALW), and their ammunition. Therefore, the EU will continue supporting the Ukrainian authorities in addressing the challenges linked to the illicit trafficking of firearms and SALW, including through security sector assistance tools.
In addition, the unprecedented number of ballistic missiles launched by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2022 represents an alarming illustration of its intention to continue undermining the global non-proliferation regime. This poses a grave threat to all nations and undermines international and regional peace and security and represents a dangerous escalation in the DPRK’s repeated violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Until the DPRK complies with these obligations, the EU will continue to implement strict sanctions and we urge all UN Members to fully implement all UNSC sanctions.
Similarly, the pace and scale of Iran’s actions are extremely concerning as they are by far inconsistent with its JCPOA nuclear commitments. This might have severe, and in the case of R&D activities, irreversible proliferation implications. Some of these actions do not have any plausible civilian justification. The EU strongly urges Iran to return without delay to full JCPOA implementation, including all transparency measures. The EU High Representative as JCPOA Coordinator continues his diplomatic efforts with the view to achieve a return to the JCPOA by the United States and the resumption of full implementation of all JCPOA commitments by the United States and Iran. This continues to be in the security interest of the region, the EU and the wider international community. The EU also urges Iran to cooperate in full with the IAEA without any further delay or conditionality to resolve all pending safeguards issues, in accordance with its legally binding obligations under its NPT Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
Last but not least, more transparency and engagement in support of the rules-based non-proliferation and disarmament order is also warranted from China, especially in light of their rapidly increasing nuclear capabilities.
Strengthening the international non-proliferation and disarmament architecture
The EU remains committed to uphold and strengthen the international non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, to universalise and insist on the full implementation of instruments and commitments taken against the developing and use of weapons of mass destruction.
It will also continue countering other forms of weapons of mass destruction, supporting the multilateral instruments against chemical and biological weapons and upholding the comprehensive legal prohibitions of these categories of weapons to ensure there is no impunity for those who use them. The EU is firmly committed to contributing to a successful outcome of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and the Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The EU also strongly supports the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons, which is the only independent international instrument in this regard. It should be safe from any pressure to subordinate it to the political will of states. The EU will stand firmly against any attempt to undermine the independence and impartiality of the OPCW.
Lastly, the EU will continue funding the implementation of the non-proliferation and disarmament objectives. Currently, the EU provides around EUR 100 million to implement 30 actions in support of non-proliferation, disarmament and arms exports control. The bulk of this money is used in order to fund the strengthening of capacity to implement the treaties for example through supporting their implementing organisations such as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons or the International Atomic Energy Agency. The EU also supports strengthening of national implementation by individual States parties and other activities, for example those to strengthen biological safety and security in Ukraine or Latin America or to counter threat of illicit small arms and light weapons in various regions of the world.
Background
The EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium is an EU-funded initiative that is composed of a number of European academic institutions working in the area of non-proliferation and disarmament: Istituto Affari Internazionali, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, la Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The main aim of the Consortium is to contribute to the implementation of the ‘EU Strategy against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction’ by promoting a European Network of independent think tanks dealing with non-proliferation and disarmament.
