Date of release : 03-05-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

On the occasion of the opening of the 2005 Conference of the Parties responsible for examining the Non-Proliferation [of nuclear weapons] Treaty (NPT), at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on 2 May 2005, the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union issued the EU’s statement on its priorities for strengthening the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation.

The Presidency’s delegation was led by the minister delegate for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Nicolas Schmit. The permanent Representative with the United Nations and the Ambassador in charge of matters concerning nuclear non-proliferation assisted the minister during this general discussion. The minister’s spoke on behalf of the twenty-five Member States of the Union, the countries in the process of adhesion, the candidate countries, the countries in the process of stabilisation and association and potential candidates, who rallied round the declaration.

In his speech, the minister delegate pointed out that "in order to guarantee and reinforce peace, security and stability on an international level, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an irreplaceable instrument, with its legally binding nature. The European Union emphasises that the Treaty is both the cornerstone of the world regime for nuclear non-proliferation and the vital foundation for nuclear disarmament (…), as well as an essential factor in the development of peaceful applications and nuclear energy."

The minister’s speech, in the name of the Presidency, helped promote the common position of the European Union, adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 25 April 2005 in Luxembourg, which sets out forty-three recommendations aimed at facilitating the search for a final consensus among the parties at the conference.

In the context of this conference, Nicolas Schmit held a series of bilateral talks, in particular with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kamal Kharrazi, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and the Assistant American Secretary for Arms Control, Stephen Rademaker.

During these talks, the minister delegate stated that the Union is greatly concerned that certain non-nuclear armed States, and parties to the Treaty, still do not fulfil their obligations in terms of non-proliferation.

With regard to the negotiations underway with Iran, Nicolas Schmit reaffirmed the support of the European Union for the efforts being made by France, the United Kingdom and Germany, with the full participation of the High Representative for the CFSP, Javier Solana. The minister delegate in particular referred to the need to respect the provisions of the Paris agreement, while emphasising that dialogue between the European Union and Iran must be maintained.

During his meeting with the Malaysian minister, who was there in his capacity as spokesman for the movement of non-aligned countries, Nicolas Schmit stated that the European Union and the movement of non-aligned countries share a considerable number of concerns and common interests.