EU Statement at the IAEA Board of Governors on Naval Nuclear Propulsion: Australia, 19 November 2025
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
The EU would like to thank the Director General for his report.
We note the ongoing bilateral discussions between Australia and the IAEA, with the aim to develop a safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion programme.
We welcome that Australia has provided to the Agency the required information under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol. The Agency has been able to conduct verification activities in Australia, as well as a visit for high level discussions on the status of the programme. Discussions are continuing on technical aspects, structure and content of the Article 14 arrangement and on ways to facilitate possible verification and monitoring activities, including voluntary transparency measures.
Further to the reporting by the Director General, we appreciate the information provided by the AUKUS parties and their commitment to the highest non-proliferation standard. It is of utmost importance that the AUKUS partnership is implemented in line with the parties’ respective international obligations.
Chair,
The EU attaches great importance to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The IAEA is the competent body to ensure full, impartial, independent and objective implementation of safeguards. Full consideration must be given to any proliferation implications and risks. We expect that all IAEA Board members respect the Secretariat’s mandate and its right to engage on safeguards and verification matters with the concerned Member States
The EU looks forward to the IAEA Board taking appropriate action once the arrangement with Australia is finalised. In the meantime, we encourage continued full transparency and reporting by the IAEA Director General, as appropriate.
Thank you, Chair.