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IAEA and EC Pledge Reinforcement of Nuclear Cooperation

IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei speaks with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in Brussels. (Photo: ©European Community, 2008)

The IAEA and the European Atomic Energy Community (´Euratom´) today released a joint statement that called for increased cooperation between the two organizations. In conjunction with meetings between IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, a joint statement was issued in Brussels on Reinforcing Cooperation on Nuclear Energy for Peace and Development. Calling for an increase in the "quality and intensity" of cooperation between the two, the IAEA and European Commission pledged to work together across several fields related to the peaceful applications of nuclear energy.

Several areas of cooperation were cited in the joint statement, including but not limited to:

  • Nuclear safety; including safety standards, installation safety, regulatory issues, safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, safe transport of radioactive material and safe decommissioning;
  • Radiation protection; including the International Basic Safety Standards, emergency preparedness and mutual assistance;
  • Enhancement of national infrastructures, as needed, in countries wishing to launch new nuclear power programmes;
  • Verification, safeguards and non-proliferation;
  • Nuclear security; including the secure management of radioactive and nuclear materials, and measures to prevent, detect and respond to incidents of illicit trafficking;
  • Supply of nuclear material, equipment and services; and
  • Technology and scientific research.

The statement was signed today by IAEA Director of the Office of External Relations and Policy Coordination Vilmos Cserveny and European Commission Deputy Director-General for Energy and Transport Dominique Ristori. Additionally, Director General ElBaradei met and discussed a range of issues with several EC officials during his stay in Brussels.

The IAEA and Euratom have a long history of collaboration. A cooperation agreement between the IAEA and Euratom was put into force on 1 January 1976, which set the legal framework for the relationship.

Background

Comprised of the members of the European Union, Euratom has established services in the areas of nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear energy, and supply of nuclear fuel. Currently, nuclear energy provides one-third of the EU´s electricity.

Both the IAEA and Euratom were established in the same year, 1957, and celebrated their respective fiftieth anniversaries last year.

Last update: 27 Jul 2017

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