Press Releases

May 2, 2007

German Government Submits Proposal on Multilateralization
of the Fuel Cycle to the IAEA

On the occasion of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the next Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Federal Government has submitted a discussion proposal on multilateralization of the fuel cycle to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Its aim is to ensure that all interested states have access to nuclear fuel for energy generation, while reducing the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier's proposal envisages that the IAEA be put in charge of a special area in which a commercial uranium enrichment plant should be built. The IAEA would be solely responsible for controlling exports of nuclear fuel from this area.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons obliges the non-nuclear signatory states to renounce nuclear weapons and all contracting parties to cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Since summer 2006 the IAEA and others have been conducting an intensive debate on how access to nuclear fuel can be made compatible with the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. With its proposal the Federal Government is reinforcing its efforts to resolve security issues through international cooperation and multilateral approaches.

The current German proposal does not contradict Germany's nuclear energy policy. Every state has the right to decide for itself whether it includes nuclear power in its energy mix. German participation in the commercial uranium enrichment plant is not envisaged.

26.04.2007 10:07 AM

Advanced Search    Help

Contacts

Officials & Institutions

Background Papers

Subscribe Here You can also read the current issues here.

Printer-Friendly Page