Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, 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 Monaco and San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

This week’s Board meeting coincides with 1,000 days since the start of Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its war is shaking the foundations of peace in Europe and violating international law.

The EU strongly condemns Russia’s continued air and missile attacks against Ukraine’s civilians and civilian infrastructure, including the recent intensified targeting of the energy sector. We recall that electrical substations are critical for the energy supply to the civilian population and for providing off-site power to the safe and secure operation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. The Agency previously observed extensive damage to the substations, and the Ukrainian authorities reported a further impact on the storage of spent fuel in Chornobyl. Russia’s actions are now putting nuclear safety and security under further pressure.

Risks to nuclear safety and security will persist as long as Russia continues its war of aggression, its attacks on the energy grid, and its illegal seizure of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). As reported by the IAEA Director General, the overall nuclear safety and security situation at the ZNPP remains precarious, with six of the Seven Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict being compromised fully or partially. We are deeply concerned by frequent explosions, gunfire, and military activities involving drones, as well drones flying in close proximity to other nuclear power plants and facilities, which are in operation.

Once again, the EU remains concerned that the Agency was not able to assess whether the five concrete principles for protecting the ZNPP were being observed at all times, due to restrictions of access to all relevant areas, information and personnel, imposed by Russia. We note with concern the presence of Russian armed troops and military equipment on site and that they continue to prevent the Agency’s visits to the Western parts of the turbine halls and several other areas. While Russia has militarised Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the plant itself continues to degrade without reliable maintenance, equipment, licensed staff, cooling water, off-site power supply, or communication with the competent Ukrainian regulator.

Under these dangerous circumstances, it is essential that all ZNPP reactor units remain in cold shutdown and that reliable emergency power production for safety equipment of all Ukrainian nuclear power plants be maintained. We reiterate the call on Russia for an immediate cessation of the attacks on the critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine as these carry serious risks to the safety and security of nuclear facilities. The seven pillars and five principles must be respected.

Chair,

The EU fully supports the Agency’s continued presence at all Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and monitoring at critical substations. The EU and its Member States are pleased to contribute to the Agency’s comprehensive assistance programme in support of Ukraine. The latest EU contribution agreement, signed in October, provides 3.7 M EUR of additional funding to IAEA activities in Ukraine on nuclear safety, spent fuel, radioactive waste management, and safeguards.

The EU welcomes the recent Ministerial Conference in Paris on “Nuclear safety and security in the framework of Ukraine’s Peace Formula”. Participants from all over the world reiterated their commitment to assisting Ukraine in ensuring nuclear safety and security, in line with Ukraine's Peace Formula and relevant UN and IAEA resolutions.

It remains urgent for Russia to comply with the resolutions adopted by this Board and the IAEA General Conference, and immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its unauthorised military and other personnel from Ukraine’s ZNPP. The plant must be returned to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities to ensure its safety and security, and the continued implementation of IAEA safeguards, in accordance with Ukraine’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.

We recall that the unlawful actions of Russia constitute a manifest violation of the UN Charter and have no validity under international law. We call upon all States, international organisations and UN agencies to refrain from any action that would recognise any alteration by Russia of the status of any of the Ukrainian regions. The EU strongly condemns the involvement of certain third countries in Russia’s war of aggression and urges them to cease all military cooperation and assistance. This includes not only direct military support, but also the provision of dual-use goods, sensitive items and services that sustain Russia’s military industrial base. The direct involvement of the DPRK troops constitutes a serious breach of international law.

The EU reiterates its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in line with the principles of the UN Charter, based on full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

Thank you, Chair.

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