AIEA

The European Commission and the 15 EU Member States today signed three Additional Protocols on Strengthened Nuclear Safeguards with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Three Additional Protocols were signed today in Vienna by the 13 non-nuclear-weapon States, plus France and the United Kingdom, all belonging to the European Union, by the European Commission on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and by the IAEA. On the occasion of the signature ceremony, Mr. Pablo Benavides Salas, Director-General for Energy in the European Commission, said that this step made by the European Union would give a strong impetus to the global nuclear non-proliferation system. Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA Director General, stated that one of the main purposes of the strengthened safeguards system – to provide assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear activities in states with legally binding non-proliferation commitments – could best be achieved with global adherence and that the signature by the 15 Member States of the European Union including two nuclear-weapon States, of their Additional Protocols constituted an important step in that direction.

By this signature the European Commission and the 15 Member States of the European Union are sending a strong signal to the world that they are legally committed to the objective and purpose of the Strengthened Safeguards System. These Protocols will be implemented in the European Union by the IAEA in co-operation with member States of the EU and the European Commission. The objective is to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of the safeguards system as a contribution to global nuclear non-proliferation objectives.

After intensive discussions between the IAEA Member States, the IAEA Board of Governors approved in May 1997 a Model Additional Protocol which contains the legal basis for additional safeguards measures. These measures include provision of additional information to the IAEA and complementary access for IAEA inspectors to all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle from uranium mines to nuclear waste treatment facilities and inspection mechanisms for fuel-cycle-related research and development.

With the conclusion of these three Additional Protocols, a considerable portion of the world’s nuclear fuel cycle which is under comprehensive safeguards will be subject to strengthened safeguards. Additionally, the two Protocols with France and the United Kingdom confirm the commitment of these two nuclear weapon States to contribute still further to nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

The European Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency hope that signature today of these three Protocols will serve as an example to other countries outside the EU, which have not already done so, to accelerate their preparations with a view to an early conclusion of Additional Protocols to their safeguards agreements with the Agency.
From iaea.org