31/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 31/07/2024 17:00
European Union
EU Statement on Cluster III specific issue - Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process
Second Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Geneva, 22 July - 2 August 2024
Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]as well as the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.
It was one of the few consensual decisions made at the 2022 NPT Review Conference that led to the meeting in July 2023 of a Working Group on further strengthening the review process. Although the Working Group could not agree on an outcome, the EU was encouraged by the constructive engagement of an overwhelming majority of States Parties, as well as by the interactive nature of the discussions.
Mr. Chair,
Last year's working group and Preparatory Committee session, as well as this year's discussions under cluster I, have made clear that there is a willingness by a majority of States Parties to move towards improving transparency and accountability when it comes to the implementation of the Treaty and its related commitments.
In this regard, the EU submitted ahead of this Preparatory Committee session a working paper titled "Enhancing transparency and accountability in the implementation of NPT obligations and commitments". In it, the EU advocates for the following two sets of measures, which we believe are shared in broad terms by a number of States Parties:
Such review sessions, foreseen for specific moments of the cycle, should take place in an interactive format and involve the participation of civil society. They should be systematic, and not solely dependent on the willingness of nuclear-weapon States to engage with the NPT community.
We invite all States Parties to study the proposals in the working paper. The EU thanks France for having provided a forum for discussion of these and other proposals, by organising at the margins of this Preparatory Committee session the side event on "Enhancing Transparency and Accountability", in which the EU Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and EU Member States took part.
Mr. Chair,
The EU would also like to recall some of its proposals regarding other aspects of how to strengthen the review process that were put forward in its working paper titled "A stronger review process for a stronger NPT" and other contributions to last year's Working Group:
Mr. Chair,
Some of the abovementioned measures may require a decision by the Review Conference, but others could be adopted and enforced on the Chair's sole authority. In this regard, we congratulate you, Mr. Chair, for having promoted the adoption of a rolling agenda for this session, which has allowed us to move from one item to the next swiftly, saving considerable time. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Mr. Chair,
The EU strongly supports carrying on this discussion to the next Preparatory Committee session, in order to further distil a possible agreement on measures to strengthen the review process.
Thank you, Chair.
[1]North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.