The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers has adopted a €3.3 million action plan to support International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) work on protecting sensitive nuclear materials that could be exploited for weapons production. The work of other organisations such as the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organisation is also supported.
Helping the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Programme, the EU will boost the physical protection of nuclear facilities and materials in use, storage and transport; increase the security of radioactive materials in non-nuclear applications; and enhance member countries’ abilities to quickly detect and effectively respond to illicit trafficking. A peer review of member countries’ export controls is currently underway.
The council (for general and external affairs) also adopted a political resolution underlining the EU’s commitment to “the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
