MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the prospects of the Non-Proliferation Treaty conference
3.3.2010
pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock on behalf of the ECR Group
B7‑0147/2010
European Parliament resolution on the prospects of the Non-Proliferation Treaty conference
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rules 115(5) and 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. taking into account and reiterating its previous resolutions on nuclear disarmament,
B. underlining that the European Security Strategy and the EU’s Strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as adopted by the enlarged EU, emphasise the importance of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,
C. recognising that all the Member States are States Parties to the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and that two Member States are nuclear-weapon states as defined in the NPT,
D. recognizing that the international community is approaching a point at which the erosion of the non-proliferation regime could become irreversible and result in a cascade of proliferation,
E. recognizing that NATO continues to see that nuclear deterrence is still relevant, given the uncertainty of the security environment, and that many of the new European members of the Alliance perceived this safeguard as crucial in their decision of joining it,
1. Reaffirms its position that the NPT is of vital importance to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to nuclear disarmament;
2. Recalls that the EU’s and the NPT’s ultimate objective is the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, but is aware at the same time that such a goal may be impossible to achieve in the context of the spread of nuclear technologies;
3. Takes note of the speech last year by US President Barack Obama in Prague which raised new hopes for nuclear disarmament, although several other nuclear powers have not endorsed such a goal;
4. Takes note of Security Council Resolution 1887 of 24 September 2009 on non-proliferation, which resolves to seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT);
5. Welcomes the decision of the Russian Federation and the US to conduct negotiations to conclude a new comprehensive, legally binding agreement to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires in December 2009, and the signing of the ‘Joint understanding for a follow-on agreement to START-1’ by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow on 6 July 2009;
6. Takes note that there is increased interest – in many cases justified – by a number of states, including those in regions where the security situation is sensitive, in using nuclear technology for energy production; the resulting spread of nuclear dual-use capabilities, particularly to regions of tension, will increase the likelihood that nuclear technology will be misused, i.e. used for military purposes;
7. Stresses that two of the most import non-proliferation cases have not yet been resolved, and that there is little prospect of resolving them in a purely diplomatic way;
8. Underlines that the uncertainties about the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme are endangering the non-proliferation system and stability in the region and the world;
9. Is concerned about nuclear testing conducted in 2009 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its rejection of UN Security Council Resolution 1887;
10. Calls on the EU and its Member States to form a common front at the NPT Review Conference in 2010 and make a positive contribution to the discussions;
11. Calls on the Council and the Member States to work towards the effective implementation of the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty;
12. Calls on the Council and the Commission to set up a programme aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear materials, technology and knowledge in the world;
13. Calls on the EU to work with its international partners, including NATO, to develop and promote measures to prevent terrorists, or those that harbour them, from gaining access to weapons and materials of mass destruction;
14. Calls on all states, and nuclear-weapon states in particular, not to provide assistance to or encourage states which may seek to acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in particular those states which are not parties to the NPT;
15. Calls on the Council and the Commission to come forward with a proposal to persuade third states and those Member States which have not yet done so to sign and ratify the IAEA Additional Protocols;
16. Calls on the Council and the Member States to clarify and step up their commitment to releasing financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions such as the IAEA;
17. Stresses the importance and urgency of the signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in order to ensure its earliest possible entry into force; calls on the Council and the Commission to insist on this in the dialogue with those partner states which have not yet ratified the CTBT and/or the NPT;
18. Welcomes the announcement by the US President that he will press for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); calls on the Council to cooperate positively and proactively with the US and Russia on this issue;
19. Calls on Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea to become States Parties to the NPT;
20. Welcomes the inclusion of non-proliferation of WMD clauses in the EU agreements with third countries and action plans; points out that such measures must be implemented by all EU partner countries without exception;
21. Stresses that preventing threats to the security of any country requires a commitment by the international community; emphasises the need for stronger regional and multilateral security structures in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and North-East Asia in order to reduce the pressure for nuclear proliferation and to achieve the abandonment of nuclear programmes;
22. Calls for more political and diplomatic effort in order to secure a peaceful settlement to conflicts linked to nuclear proliferation;
23. Calls on both the Council and the Commission to present a progress report to Parliament on the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference in due time;
24. Recommends that an official Parliament delegation attend the NPT Review Conference;
25. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Presidency-in-office of the Council, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the governments and parliaments of Iran and North Korea and all States Parties to the NPT and the IAEA..