EU Explanation of Vote: United Nations 1st Committee: No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space

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Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Member States of the European Union.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Canada align themselves with this explanation of vote.

I am taking the floor to explain our vote on the proposal contained in document L.50 regarding “No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space”.

We are not in a position to support draft resolution.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union and its Member States have long advocated for the preservation of a safe, secure and sustainable space environment and the peaceful uses of outer space on an equitable and mutually acceptable basis for all. Strengthening the safety, security, and long-term sustainability of activities in outer space is a key priority and in the common interest of present and future generations.

We believe it is important to develop initiatives that will increase and strengthen confidence and mutual trust between current and future space actors. In this regard, we would like to highlight the importance of Transparency and Confidence Building Measures that can make an important contribution to the security, safety and sustainability of activities in outer space. This is the reason why the EU proposed some years ago an international Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. We encourage and support further international cooperation to elaborate agreed principles of responsible behavior in outer space and underline the need to advocate responsible behavior in outer space notably in the UN framework.

The EU and its Member States remain strongly committed to the prevention of an arms race in outer space. Therefore, all EU Member States vote in favour of the document L.3, UN General Assembly Resolution regarding the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS).

With regard to draft Resolution [L.50] on “No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space” (NFP), we remain concerned that this initiative still does not adequately respond to the objective of strengthening trust and confidence between States to concretely strengthen space security. We reiterate that the NFP initiative does not address the difficult issue of defining what a weapon in outer space is, which continue to make this resolution ineffective and does not address threats and security risk emanating from the dual-use nature of many space systems. Ambiguities, regarding the capabilities of certain objects and regarding intentions of their use, could lead to misinterpretations, misunderstandings and miscalculations, and could consequently increase the risk of conflict in space.

Furthermore, with space being increasingly contested and congested, we remain concerned about the continued development and testing of anti-satellites weapons and capabilities, both ground-based and co-orbital and underline the importance of addressing such dangerous and highly destabilizing developments promptly, comprehensively and as part of international efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space, something that this resolution does not do sufficiently.

Mr. Chairman,

Rather than introducing a NFP pledge, the EU and its Member States believe that voluntary measures constitute a pragmatic way forward at the moment, starting with norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours, through an incremental and inclusive process. It would be useful to address the irresponsible and threatening behaviours in order to advance meaningful and inclusive discussions and initiatives on how to prevent space from becoming an arena for conflict and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the space environment. We do not see this in opposition, but complementing the approach of eventually striving towards a legally binding instrument in the future.  

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.