EU Statement on the occasion of the Sixty-Fifth Session of CTBTO Preparatory Commission (10-12 November 2025)
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine.
Chair,
We wish to express our sympathy and condolences on the passing of the first Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, Ambassador Wolfgang Hoffmann.
We thank the Executive Secretary for his comprehensive reports, and express our support for the recommendations contained in the reports of Working Groups A and B, as well as of the Advisory Group. We also wish to express our appreciation to you Chair for your intensive efforts and consultations and to the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) for the timely preparations of this Session.
The entry into force of the CTBT remains a priority for the EU. We urge all States that have not yet done so, in particular the remaining Annex 2 States, to sign and ratify the CTBT without any preconditions or further delay. In the meantime, it is crucial for international peace and security that all States fully observe the moratorium on nuclear test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, and refrain from any action contrary to the object and purpose of the Treaty. We call on all States without exception to continue to honour their engagements, including those undertaken during the NPT Review Processes.
In this regard, we recall the Executive Secretary’s Public Statement, of 30th October, and underline the role of International Monitoring System (IMS) in the detection of nuclear weapon test explosions.
The EU urges the DPRK to abandon its existing nuclear weapons programmes and comply with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions to refrain from testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Any nuclear test must be met with a swift, united, and robust international response. We urge the DPRK to sign and ratify the CTBT without any preconditions or further delay. The EU stands ready to support any meaningful diplomatic process and is committed to working with all relevant partners to build a basis for sustainable peace and security and take steps aimed at pursuing complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Chair,
The EU attaches significant importance to the adoption of the Budget for the next biennium at this meeting. We thank the PTS for circulating the Final Draft, rev. 2 of the 2026-2027 Programme and Budget Proposals. We take note that in line with the recommendation made by Working Group A, a zero nominal growth Budget was put forward. We agree with the Executive Secretary that this will not be without consequences for IMS Sustainment. We look forward to continuing discussions on IMS Sustainment early in 2026, with a view to ensuring data availability and the continued effectiveness of the verification regime. On the 2022-2023 cash surplus, we thank the PTS for circulating the draft decision, and can support it.
Moreover, it is crucial for the wider Organisation’s financial health, that all States demonstrate their political commitment and honour their legal obligations by paying their assessed contributions on time and in full, as well as any arrears due to the Organisation.
The EU has so far contributed more than € 29.5 million in extra-budgetary contributions to the Organization. This reflects the very strong commitment of the EU and its Member States to the Treaty and its implementation. EU funds are currently being used to support the CTBT verification regime and capacity-building for developing countries in all geographic regions. We welcome the sustained efforts of the PTS towards gender equality and equitable geographical representation, including towards equal representation within its staff and towards promotion of women participation in capacity-building activities. Present and past EU funding directly support these goals.
Chair,
We look forward to the appointments of the new Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Commission for the next year. We welcome and support the candidacy of Ambassador Raimonds Oškalns of Latvia, as the new Chair of the Commission for 2026. We regret that, once again, no nomination for the position of Vice-Chair has been submitted on behalf of the Middle East and South Asia Regional Group, and invite all regional groups to submit nominations.
We also take note of the Executive Secretary’s recommendation on the re-appointment of two Directors at the PTS. In this regard the EU expresses its strong disappointment that one recommendation relates to a State Signatory which is carrying out a full-scale invasion in another State Signatory. The EU position on Russia’s unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine is well known, and has been stated during previous Sessions of the Preparatory Commission.
We also assure you of the EU’s full support and cooperation in bringing this meeting to a successful completion, and stress that the Report of this Session should be concise and factual, focusing on operative outcomes.
In conclusion Chair,
As we have entered the 30th anniversary year of the CTBT, let us celebrate the collective achievements of the Treaty and its verification regime, and renew our efforts for the promotion of its entry into force.
Thank you.