Chair,

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

As already discussed at previous Board meetings, the EU trusts the independent, impartial and professional work of the IAEA Secretariat also on this matter and that the IAEA Director General will ensure a transparent process. Therefore, we do not consider it necessary to establish parallel structures such as the proposal by one country on a new open-ended discussion forum. Nor do we consider it necessary or timely to add a new item on the Board agenda.

Thank you, Chair.

* Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania as well as potential Candidate Country Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland and Norway are members of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.