Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of 26 European Union Member States. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.

The EU remains deeply concerned about the ongoing risks to nuclear safety and security affecting all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Agency staff present in Ukraine continued to report drones observed flying in close proximity to nuclear power plants and frequent air raid alarms at these sites. The last February drone attack caused extensive damage to Chornobyl’s New Safe Confinement, compromising its intended confinement function and planned lifetime, with implications for nuclear safety, including the safe management of the dismantling activities. Because of Russia’s ruthless attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, we are deeply concerned by the ability of the electricity grid in Ukraine to provide reliable off-site power supply to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the increased likelihood of a complete loss of off-site power at all the NPPs. It is imperative that the attacks against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure stop immediately.

As reported by the IAEA Director General, the situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains precarious, with six of the Seven Pillars compromised either fully or partially. The IAEA mission reported continued military activities nearby and the presence of Russian armed troops and military equipment on site. Since early May, the ZNPP relies on a single power line, without any back-up lines, which should be urgently restored. Particular concerns, as reported by the Director General, arise from the lack of maintenance and equipment, leading to the technical degradation of the ZNPP, the situation regarding the availability of cooling water in the long-term, and the absence of licenced personnel. 

We are concerned that the IAEA mission continues to face restrictions on access and information at the ZNPP, making it more difficult for the IAEA to fully assess whether all Five Principles are being observed at all times. We reiterate our call on Russia to grant full, timely and unrestricted access for the IAEA experts to all requested locations, information and personnel at the ZNPP, including the Western part of the turbine halls.

We are grateful to the IAEA for all its work to contribute to mitigating nuclear safety and security risks, deliver technical support and assistance to Ukraine, and implement safeguards in accordance with Ukraine’s legal obligations as a non-nuclear weapon State. The EU and its Member States continue to provide significant financial and logistical support for IAEA missions on site. The Agency’s continued presence at Ukraine’s nuclear sites and in particular at the ZNPP, as well as its monitoring of critical electrical substations are of paramount importance. We urge Russia to allow the safe passage of IAEA experts to and from the ZNPP duly in time, in full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Under the critical conditions of operation of the ZNPP mentioned in the DG’s report, all reactors must remain in cold shutdown, as instructed by Ukraine’s nuclear safety regulator and recommended by the IAEA. Any attempt to connect Ukraine’s ZNPP with Russia’s energy grid is unacceptable. This would mark yet another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and further exacerbate the already serious nuclear safety risks. Any future potential restart of the reactors at the ZNPP can only be considered once the safety and security conditions have been met and the facility has been returned to the legitimate control and oversight of Ukraine’s competent regulatory authority. A thorough safety review, as mandated by Ukraine’s national authorities, should establish the conditions to be met for a safe restart of the reactors. The IAEA would also play an essential role in this assessment. 

Chair,

The EU has repeatedly condemned this war of aggression as a grave violation of international law, notably the UN Charter that prohibits the threat or use of force and calls on all Members to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other States. The principles enshrined in the UN Charter are universal, binding and apply anywhere. It is in the interest of all States to uphold them.

The EU will continue to support all efforts for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law. We join Ukraine and international partners in calling for a full, unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days. Once again, the EU urges Russia to immediately and unconditionally cease its war of aggression against Ukraine, withdraw from the ZNPP and all of Ukraine’s territory, and comply with the UN Charter and all relevant IAEA and UN General Assembly resolutions. The EU will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Thank you, Chair.