U.S.-EU Cooperation on the Nonproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

United States and European Union cooperation on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has evolved into a robust partnership aimed at advancing key nonproliferation goals. At their June 2004 Summit, the United States and the European Union issued a joint declaration in which they agreed to expand their cooperation to prevent, contain, and reverse the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their related materials and their delivery systems. Their commitments build on President Bush’s proposed seven steps to help combat the development and threat of WMD, the EU Strategy against Proliferation of WMD, and the G-8 June 2004 Action Plan on Nonproliferation. (See http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040211-5.html, http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/rls/fs/33378.htm, and http://www.ue.eu.int/uedocs/cmsUpload/st15708.eu03.pdf for more information.)

In June, the United States and the European Union applauded the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1540 and welcomed the G-8 Action Plan.

They agreed to:

Work to establish new measures so that sensitive nuclear items with proliferation potential will not be exported to States that may seek to use them for weapons purposes or allow them to fall into terrorists hands. In aid of this process, they agreed to refrain for one year from initiating new transfers of enrichment and reprocessing equipment and technology to additional states, while seeking permanent controls to keep this capability from terrorists or states seeking it for nuclear weapons;

Subscribe fully to the Proliferation Security Initiative Statement of Interdiction Principles, support efforts to interdict WMD shipments, and enhance cooperation against proliferation networks, including in intelligence and law enforcement. (See http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/fs/23764.htm.);

Seek stronger enforcement of nuclear nonproliferation obligations, including by: making the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol an essential new standard in the field of nuclear supply; creating a new special committee of the IAEA Board of Governors to focus on safeguards and verification; and declaring that states under investigation should not participate in IAEA compliance decisions;

Support the work of the G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (http://www.state.gov/t/np/rls/fs/34967.htm); and

Take concrete action to expand and improve capability to prevent and respond to bioterrorism.

In addition, the United States and the European Union are also:

Committed to implement fully United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, to criminalize proliferation, establish effective export controls and protect dangerous materials, and to assist others to do the same;

Committed to preserve the integrity of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime;

Resolved to enhance cooperation to promote the security of radioactive sources and prevent their misuse; and

Agreed to continue to promote effective export controls, backed up by criminal sanctions, and to work to identify, control, and interdict WMD- and missile-related proliferation shipments.

We welcome Libya's cooperation in dismantling, under international verification, its WMD and longer-range missile programs.

North Korea’s February 10, 2005 announcement that it possesses nuclear weapons and that it is suspending the Six Party Talks indefinitely is a concern shared by the U.S and the European Union. North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, in violation of its international obligations, represents a threat to peace and security. The United States and the European Union support the Six-Party Talks and urge North Korea to resume these discussions.

On Iran, the United States and the European Union share the same goal: an Iran without nuclear weapons.Iran must fully compliance with its Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations and safeguards agreements, and should expeditiously ratify the Additional Protocol to the NPT.