Chair,

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

The EU reaffirms its full support for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. We consider the 1995 Resolution valid until its goals and objectives are achieved and strongly support the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference on the Middle East.  

The EU notes the four UN Conferences on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their outcomes. As stated before, the EU is of the view that such zones can only be established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at, and taking into account the security interests of all the States of the region concerned. Especially in the current context, we strongly encourage all stakeholders, and especially the States of the region, to engage in meaningful consultations in order to build an inclusive and consensus-based process towards the implementation of the 1995 NPT Resolution.  

The EU continues to stand ready to assist in the process and help produce a conducive atmosphere. In this regard, the EU provides significant funding to the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) on a process of confidence-building.  

The EU reiterates its firm support for the full, complete, and effective implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its three pillars, and for its universalisation. We continue to call on all States in the region, which have not yet done so, to accede to and abide by the NPT and all WMD related Treaties. We call on all States to bring into force Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocols and, as applicable, to rescind or modify the Small Quantities Protocol. Universal subscription to The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation would also contribute to regional confidence building, which is necessary for progress towards a Middle East WMD free zone.  

Thank you, Chair. 

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