Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Serbia, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
The EU thanks the Group of Friends of Arealess States for their continued efforts to raise awareness of this long-standing open issue affecting a number of IAEA Member States.
The EU will continue to support the Group of Friends with the hope that further progress can be achieved towards implementing the important principle of sovereign equality enshrined in Article IV of the IAEA Statute.
The EU fully recognises the concerns expressed by those States that are not currently part of any regional group and do not have the possibility to assume office holder positions, nor become Board members. It goes without saying that the rights of all IAEA Member States resulting from their membership, as per the Statute, should be respected. All Member States complying with their obligations should have a fair chance to participate in decision-making in the IAEA policy-making bodies.
The EU strongly encourages all IAEA Member States that have not yet done so, including all arealess States and new Member States, to accept the 1999 Amendment to Article VI of the IAEA Statute. The entry into force of this amendment would enlarge the composition of the Board of Governors and represent an important step towards more equality and inclusiveness. All 27 EU Member States have already accepted the said amendment.
Thank you, Chair.