Working Paper Submitted by Portugal on behalf of the European Union

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Working paper submitted by Portugal on behalf of the European Union

Regarding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy as referred to in the sixth and seventh preambular paragraphs and articles III, paragraph 3, and IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the relevant provisions of the Principles and Objectives, the European Union proposes, on the basis of the framework established by the Treaty and the Principles and Objectives laid down at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, the following elements as areas, among others, in which, and the means through which, further progress should be sought in future:

1. Calling upon nuclear suppliers to continue the efforts of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Zangger Committee to enhance transparency and foster dialogue and cooperation among all interested parties.

2. Calling upon all States with nuclear materials on their territory to maintain and improve, as appropriate, their own arrangements for nuclear materials accountancy, safety and physical protection, applying the appropriate internationally agreed standards.

3. Calling upon all States to take measures to ensure that exports of sensitive materials, equipment and technologies are subject to an appropriate system of surveillance and control, facilitating cooperative technological development by providing confidence to suppliers that goods, technology and materials will only be used for peaceful purposes.

4. Calling upon States that have not yet done so to accede to the Physical Protection Convention, adopt the relevant physical protection and basic safety standards and introduce and enforce appropriate measures and legislation to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials.

5. Underlining the importance of continuing international cooperation in order to strengthen nuclear safety, safe waste management and radiological protection, and calling upon States that have not yet done so to accede to all relevant conventions as soon as possible and to implement fully their ensuing commitments.