Statement of Hungary on behalf of the European Union

Statement of Hungary on behalf of the European Union

IAEA BoG – 21 March 2011, Vienna

Mr Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries

Turkey, Croatia, Iceland

Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential

candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, the EFTA country

Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Armenia and

Georgia associate themselves with this statement.

2. The EU would like to express once again its most sincere condolences and deepest

sympathy to the people and government of Japan for the tragic loss of human life

which has resulted from the 11 March earthquake and the tsunami which came in its

aftermath. We admire the way in which the Japanese people are coping with the

effects of the disaster on their lives.

3. At the request of Japan, the EU immediately activated its Civil Protection Mechanism

and its Member States are contributing to address the requests for humanitarian

assistance by sending relief teams and supplies.

4. The EU welcomes the report of the Director General on his recent visit to Japan and

appreciates the decision to convene a special meeting of the Board. We have taken

particular note of the efforts made by the Agency to help address the civil nuclear

emergency at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant. We also pay tribute to the

enormous efforts and sacrifice invested by Japanese personnel in their fight to control

the situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant.

5. The EU welcomes the daily technical briefings which have been provided by the

Agency on the developments at affected nuclear power plants, in particular the

Fukushima plant, and the cooperation with other international organisations, including

CTBTO. The EU appreciates that authenticated information is continuously made

available to all Member States around the clock in accordance with the Early

Notification Convention. We would also like to underscore the important role the

Agency is playing in coordinating international assistance in response to nuclear

emergencies of this sort. We consider it important that the IAEA receives a high

degree of support and constructive contributions from all of its Member States during

such a crisis.1, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of

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Association Process. Iceland remains an EFTA country and member of the European Economic Area.Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilization and

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6. The EU considers that a priority of the Agency is to quickly identify the necessary

international capabilities that could usefully contribute to dealing with the effects of the

disaster. The EU is of the view that at this stage, the Agency has to preserve the

prevailingly technical character of its approach to the issue and should effectively use

its expertise to coordinate the efforts aiming at providing the necessary analysis,

drawing practical conclusions and providing guidance for rescue teams on the ground.

7. The EU looks forward to receiving regular updates from the Director General on the

work of the Agency’s Technical Assistance Team in Japan, as well as Agency efforts

to co-ordinate assistance from Member States to Japan.

8. At a high level meeting convened on 15 March in response to the developments in

Japan, EU Member states and Commission reiterated the need to offer and deliver

assistance to Japan and envisaged an approach to safety that would involve

comprehensive safety and risk assessments in Europe. Today, the EU Energy

Council, meeting in an extraordinary session in Brussels, will address the situation in

Japan.

Mr Chairman,

9. The EU reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the continuous improvement of nuclear

safety standards. On 25 June 2009, the EU became the first regional actor to provide

a legally binding framework on nuclear safety through the European Council Directive

establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations. At

the European Council on 4 February 2011, the EU agreed it should take initiatives in

line with the treaties in the relevant international fora on all subjects of common

interest, such as energy security, safe and sustainable low carbon technologies,

energy efficiency, the investment environment and maintaining and promoting the

highest standards for nuclear safety.

10. In this context we are committed to the universalisation of relevant Nuclear Safety

instruments and IAEA nuclear safety standards. The EU calls on IAEA Member States

who have not yet done so to become party to the Conventions on Nuclear Safety, - the

Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, - Assistance in the Case of Nuclear Accident

or Radiological Emergency, Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

and its Amendment, and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel

Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management are instruments of

utmost importance The EU looks forward to the Fifth Review Meeting of the

Convention on Nuclear Safety in April this year, which is a cornerstone in the

international efforts to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety.

Mr Chairman,

11. Finally, let me confirm once again that the EU stands ready to respond to further

requests for assistance from the Government of Japan and the Agency.

Thank you.