EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on restoration of sovereign equality in the IAEA, as delivered on 10 September 2024

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU. 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 Holger Martinsen from Argentina for assuming the Chairmanship of the Friends Group for the upcoming period. The EU will continue to support the endeavours of the Group of Friendswith the hope that further progress could be achieved towards implementing 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 policy-making bodies. In this regard, the EU is pleased to learn that three former arealess States have recently joined two regional groups. This is a good step forward.

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 reaching 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 Amendment to Article VI of the IAEA Statute. The EU is therefore pleased to join the initiative of the Republic of Korea and Slovenia and co-sponsor a side event during the IAEA General Conference on Tuesday, 17 September, to raise further awareness of the importance of the early entry into force of this Amendment.

Thank you, Chair.

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