Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]  and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

The EU thanks Kazakhstan and the Group of Friends of Arealess States for their continued efforts to raise awareness of this long-standing open issue affecting a number of IAEA Member States. We also thank Ambassador Žvokelj of Slovenia for her active and transparent engagement towards identifying possible solutions in cooperation with the concerned States. The EU will continue supporting the endeavours of the Group of Friends  in order to move forward with this complex issue with the aim to implement the important provision of sovereign equality enshrined in Article IV of the IAEA Statute.  

The EU recognises the concerns expressed by those States which do not currently belong to any regional group and do not have a possibility to assume office holder positions, let alone become Board members. It goes without saying that the rights of all IAEA Member States resulting from their membership, as per the Statute, should be respected. All Member States complying with their obligations should have a fair chance to participate in decision-making in the IAEA governing bodies.

The EU also encourages all IAEA Member States that have not yet done so, including all “arealess” States to accept the 1999 Amendment to Article VI of the IAEA Statute. The entry into force of this amendment would enlarge the composition of the Board of Governors and represent an important step towards a solution for arealess States. The two issues are interlinked and equally important for the implementation of the principles of inclusiveness and equitable geographic representation in the Agency's work. All 27 EU Member States have already accepted the said amendment.

Thank you, Chair.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.