Germany advocates greater nuclear safety at the 70th IAEA General Conference

Today, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, is representing Germany at the plenary session of the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. Against the backdrop of the drastic nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine caused by the war, Schwarzelühr-Sutter announced a further one million euros to support the IAEA in enhancing the safety situation in Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs). She called on Russia to immediately end its illegal war of aggression on Ukraine, and urged the global community to join the international campaign to fund repairs to the damaged New Safe Confinement (NSC) covering the destroyed reactor at Chernobyl NPP. Germany is leading the way with a contribution of 50 million euros.

Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter commented: "Nuclear power plants in war zones face serious additional risks. This is the case for the Zaporizhzhia NPP that has been forcibly occupied by Russia, Ukraine's operational nuclear power plants and Chernobyl NPP, where a drone attack caused massive damage to the NSC.

Repairing the NSC is extremely complicated and requires joint international efforts. It is in all our interests to make those efforts, as the urgently needed dismantling of the destroyed reactor and recovery of radioactive material, including molten fuel, can only be carried out if the NSC is intact. Until this happens, the stricken reactor must be permanently secured and monitored by radiation protection experts. Otherwise, there is a long-term threat of radioactive substances being released into the environment. Repairing the NSC during a war is a colossal challenge. To facilitate repairs as soon as possible, we especially need a concerted effort from the G7 countries that made the substantial contributions that enabled the NSC to be built in the first place. The German government plans to provide 50 million euros for the repair work.

Germany is gravely concerned about Zaporizhzhia NPP and the other power reactors in Ukraine. That is why we are again stepping up our support for the IAEA missions to Ukraine. War is not compatible with nuclear safety and security. Russia must cease its irresponsible gamble with nuclear safety at once."

Germany campaigns internationally for the highest safety standards and has supported the IAEA missions to Ukraine's nuclear power plants from the start.

Another focus of the General Conference is this year's Science Forum. Non-power nuclear technologies are widely used throughout the world. Germany is especially committed to medical applications. The Scientific Forum, taking place in parallel to the IAEA General Conference on 15 and 16 September, was opened this year by the Parliamentary State Secretary alongside heads of state and government. It is dedicated to the Rays of Hope initiative. This IAEA programme was launched in 2022 to support the global fight against cancer, especially in low- and medium-income countries. Germany has supported the initiative from its inception. Rays of Hope supports the establishment and improvement of centres for radiation therapy, diagnosis and nuclear medicine. It also supports training for specialist medical personnel.

The 70th IAEA General Conference is taking place in Vienna from 14 to 18 September 2026. The General Conference is the annual meeting of all 181 member states. Its purpose includes discussing nuclear safety and security issues, the peaceful use of atomic energy and monitoring of nuclear material to guard it against misuse. The General Conference is the main platform for international cooperation in this field.

The IAEA monitors compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, develops safety standards for nuclear power plants and for industrial and medical applications of radioactive substances and ionising radiation. It also supports technical cooperation and reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council on dangers to world peace. The IAEA also carries out international development cooperation through the application of nuclear technologies in fields such as human medicine, water, agriculture and food production.