Vienna, Seminar „Global Nuclear Fuel Supply", Statement by O. Gorgol, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the UN
Vienna, Seminar „Global Nuclear Fuel Supply - Statement by Otakar Gorgol, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations on behalf of the European Union.
Multilateral Nuclear Fuel Supply Mechanisms
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The European Union has followed with great interest the reflections and proposals for multilateral nuclear fuel supply mechanisms, including the project of a fuel bank under the control of the IAEA as proposed by the Nuclear Threat Initiative. I am pleased to inform you that the European Council has decided on December 8th, last year, to support this ambitious project.
I would also like to share with you the conclusions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the EU.
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"The Council considers that it is important that the development of nuclear energy takes place in the best safety, security and non-proliferation conditions. Moreover, nuclear fuel supply security is crucial for countries developing a nuclear programme.
The Council recalls that international efforts aimed at establishing multilateral mechanisms will provide states with increased energy security. This may also offer a credible alternative to the development of national enrichment and reprocessing capabilities.
The Council decides to express its support for the establishment of a nuclear fuel bank placed under the control of the IAEA. The European Union is planning to contribute up to EUR 25 million to this project, once the conditions and modalities for the bank have been defined and approved by the Board of Governors of the IAEA.
The nuclear fuel bank will be part of a broader effort to provide multilateral fuel supply mechanisms. Different solutions will have to be developed for different needs. In this spirit, the European Union intends to pursue in the near future in-depth discussions on this issue with third parties concerned”.
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We believe this contribution will allow the IAEA to engage in discussions on the modalities for the bank. The EU is looking forward to participating in detailed discussions with all Member States. The fuel bank would thus be a concrete step in making long-discussed multilateral fuel supply mechanisms a reality.
Further, as the Council noted, the fuel bank is not exclusive in its character. There are complementary initiatives and ideas, including several proposals by EU and other States that may prove useful to meet different situations and needs. In this regard, today's discussions and the ideas expressed provide useful contributions to the development of mechanisms that can ensure that, where countries decide to pursue this option, nuclear energy can be used in the best safety, security and non-proliferation conditions.
Thank you
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:50
