Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency - 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency - 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

EU Statement

Any other business

11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Board of Governors - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Vienna, 8-12 June 2026

Chair,

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

We would like to comment on the outcome of the 11^th Review Conference of the NPT which took place in New York from 27 April-22 May 2026, given the crucial role of the IAEA in the implementation of two of the three pillars of this important Treaty.

First of all, let me commend the IAEA Secretariat for its hard work and support for the Conference. The EU has actively and constructively contributed to this 11^th NPT Review Conference across all three pillars of the Treaty. We have repeatedly reaffirmed our support for upholding and fully implementing the Treaty in all its aspects, promoting its universalisation, and upholding commitments made in previous review conferences. At the same time, we have highlighted the Treaty's historic achievements and its crucial role in the maintenance of international peace and security, despite the challenges it currently faces.

We deeply regret that it has not been possible to achieve consensus on an outcome document. Such an agreement would have contributed to strengthening the NPT and international peace and security, at a time of great need and geopolitical tensions. We would like nevertheless to underline here the commendable efforts of the President of the Conference, Ambassador Do Hung Viet from Vietnam, and those of the Chairs of all the Main Committees and Subsidiary Bodies in the arduous negotiations held over four weeks. The EU appreciates the transparent process applied by the President and the Vice-Chairs, with a view to arrive at a final outcome document that could have reflected the balance of views expressed during the debates.

Chair,

The lack of an outcome document must not hide the important messages that have been put forward by the EU and its Members States, and that were echoed by many delegations. The crucial and indispensable contributions of the IAEA to the implementation of the NPT and the importance of the equal implementation of all three pillars of the Treaty has been recalled and emphasized.

For the European Union, nuclear safety, security and safeguards are essential for the use of nuclear energy. Looking at the period between 2022 and 2026, the IAEA's role was thus fully acknowledged in support of the implementation of safeguards agreements, with the progress recently achieved with two new CSA concluded and with the growing call for the universalization of the Additional Protocol which, together with the CSA, constitute the current verification standard under Article III of the NPT. We were encouraged by the broad support for the IAEA's central role in facilitating international cooperation and in making nuclear science and technology beneficial and accessible to all States Parties. We were equally encouraged that the Conference recognised that peaceful applications of nuclear technology can make a real contribution the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. During these 4 years, the IAEA carried out its role as recalled by statements delivered during this Board session.

Chair,

There were also some concerns broadly shared during this Review Conference. For instance, Russia's actions in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine that undermine all pillars of the Treaty, in particular its illegal seizure and militarisation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP); Chinas opaque and massive nuclear build-up; Iran's non-compliance with its legally binding NPT obligations arising in particular from the UNSC resolutions and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the DPRK's nuclear and missile programmes developed in violation of UNSC resolutions and the NPT itself. Also, concrete forward-looking measures for nuclear disarmament, such as adopting and upholding a moratorium on the production of fissile material, should have been included, and language on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the test ban moratoria should have been more precise.

In our view, a strong language on safeguards and non-proliferation was expected for the outcome document. The safeguards system of the IAEA remains a fundamental component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Efforts will continue to further strengthen its effectiveness and efficiency in particular through the universalisation of CSA and Additional Protocols. Furthermore, clear language, without mentioning undue restraints, would also have been called for in order to reflect the many references made to the essential role of export controls and multilateral export control regimes for non-proliferation. These ensure the peaceful uses of nuclear material and related equipment and for facilitating collaboration between provider and recipient countries.

Chair,

The European Union and its Member States will continue to unequivocally support the NPT as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament according to its Article VI, and an important element in developing nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes according to its Article IV. We would however stress the clear distinction between the Treaty itself - whose authority and relevance remains unquestioned - and the outcome of the review process.

We are looking forward to the next review cycle. We note the dialogue and discussions in which State Parties participated during the past Review Conference and trust that State Parties will take advantage of the opportunity presented by the next review cycle to achieve the progress that is very much needed. We remain committed to working with all States Parties in order to attain tangible results in support of the effective implementation of the Treaty across all three pillars.

Thank you, Chair.