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^*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, Georgia, Iceland⁺, Liechtenstein⁺, Norway⁺ and San Marino.

The EU thanks the Director General for his latest report (GOV/2023/44) on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. We highly appreciate the active and courageous work of the Director General and Agency staff.

The IAEA’s work remains indispensable to help prevent a nuclear accident that would have severe consequences for people and the environment in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. It would also have major global reverberations. As the Director General’s report once again illustrates, Ukraine continues to face unprecedented nuclear safety and security risks which did not exist before Russia’s illegal war of aggression and illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

It is of great concern to the EU that the seven pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict are being compromised as a direct result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The ZNPP has lost its main source of cooling water following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Its main off-site power supply line suffers frequent disconnections. Maintenance work is being neglected in the absence of sufficient spare parts and personnel. The operating staff is conducting their duties under constant intimidation, increasing the risk of mistakes. The orders of the Ukrainian Regulator for all six units to be placed in cold shutdown are deliberately ignored as is the IAEA’s recommendation in this regard, whose implementation should be accelerated. Most worryingly, there is continued significant Russian military presence at the site, with outwards-facing mines and military activity near the site.

The international community needs to step up its efforts to support Ukraine to ensure nuclear safety, security and safeguards in all of its nuclear facilities. As highlighted in the Director General’s report, the EU and its Member States have funded IAEA missions and equipment and provided experts, in addition to significant bilateral assistance to Ukraine. We remain committed and will do more. We encourage further mobilisation of human resources to ensure the sustainability of the IAEA’s important Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia and to Ukraine’s other nuclear power plants.

We furthermore insist on the regular rotation of experts and their unrestricted and timely access to all locations to monitor the observance of the five concrete principles established by the Director General for protecting the ZNPP on 30 May 2023. We are concerned that Russia has not allowed the IAEA experts to access certain reactor rooftops or turbine halls, preventing the IAEA from promptly assessing the situation against the five principles.

Chair,

The EU reiterates its strongest condemnation of Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine. We urge Russia to stop violating the IAEA Board’s resolutions, immediately and completely withdraw all its armed forces, military equipment and personnel from Ukraine, including from the ZNPP, which must be returned to the competent Ukrainian authorities. It is of concern that any State let alone a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a designated member of the IAEA Board, is so flagrantly violating its international obligations and commitments.

We welcome the Agency’s clear stance, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 11/4 of 12 October 2022, that the annexation of four regions of Ukraine has no validity under international law. We expect all IAEA Member States to fully respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and hold Russia accountable for its gross violations of international law, notably the UN Charter and the IAEA Statute.

The EU welcomes that despite the very challenging circumstances, the IAEA has continued to implement safeguards in Ukraine, in accordance with Ukraine’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.

Furthermore, we appreciate the ongoing work of the Agency to review challenges in the application of the nuclear safety standards and nuclear security guidance in situations of armed conflict.

We appreciate that the IAEA Director General continues to closely monitor the situation and regularly issue formal and comprehensive reports to the Board. We request further regular briefings and reporting to the Board of Governors on the implementation of the five principles to facilitate appropriate follow-up in the IAEA policy-making bodies.

Thank you, Chair.

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

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