The Council of the European Union (EU) made a contribution of nearly €10 million to the IAEA´s Nuclear Security Fund, a voluntary funding mechanism established to support the Agency's activities in nuclear security.
According to the terms of the agreement, the IAEA will use the funds to prevent, detect and respond to nuclear terrorism around the world.
This is the fifth co-operation agreement on nuclear security signed between the IAEA and the EU since 2003, though it is the first one to have a global dimension. The agreement was signed by Denis Flory, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, and Juha Auvinen, Unit Head at the European Commission´s Common Foreign Policy Operations, Directorate General for External Relations.
"Nuclear terrorism is a serious threat in today´s world, creating a level of global uncertainty and tension," said Flory.
"The IAEA and the EU have been fruitfully cooperating for years on this issue and we anticipate that the continued cooperation between the two institutions will go a long way to addressing these problems."
Auvinen noted that, "On the basis of past experience, we are confident that the funds will be used well by the IAEA."
The contribution is part of the EU strategy to fight the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, a strategy that is also aimed at preventing, deterring, halting and where possible, eliminating proliferation programmes of concern worldwide.
Background
Originally set up in 2002 for a period of three years, the IAEA´s Nuclear Security Fund was extended in September 2005 when the IAEA Board of Governors approved a new Nuclear Security Plan covering the period 2006-2009. In September 2009, the Board approved a new Nuclear Security Plan covering the period 2010-2013. Implementation of this plan is almost wholly dependent on the donation of extra-budgetary contributions by Member States and other institutions.
Safety programmes and the safeguards programme include activities that, while established to support safeguards and safety objectives, also support the objectives of the nuclear security programme. These programmes are largely funded by the IAEA regular budget and supported by other extra-budgetary contributions. Financial support from the Nuclear Security Fund is used to enhance or accelerate implementation of these activities for nuclear security purposes.
The EU is the second largest contributor to the Fund after the USA.