EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/293

(2004/C 78 E/0294)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3498/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Iran — nuclear energy

In a communiqué of 10 November 2003, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that the Iranian Government had accepted an Additional Protocol, granting the Agency additional powers and inspection facilities, and had decided to suspend work on enriching and processing uranium.

The IAEA report on this issue indicates that for years, the Iranian regime disguised part of its research programmes for years, and explored every possible avenue that would allow it to acquire nuclear weapons, specifically by enriching uranium by centrifuge or laser, and separating plutonium, with the help of four unidentified countries.

The Commission:

— Does it believe that Iran meets the obligations incumbent on it as a signatory of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty?

— How does it view the information provided to the IAEA by the Iranian regime? Does it believe that the control measures agreed between the IAEA and Iran are adequate?

— Does it believe that there is a need for more and better information? Does it have any further data on nuclear activity on Iranian soil? Does it know the identity of the countries which cooperated with Iran on nuclear programmes, and does it intend to do anything about these countries?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2004)

The meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on 26 November 2003 based its discussions on the third report by Director-General El Baradei. Both the report and the resolution adopted by the Board, confirmed a past pattern of concealment and irregularities by Iran. At the same time, progress on outstanding issues and recent cooperation with the IAEA, were noted. The visit of the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France and Germany and the resulting Tehran ‘Agreement’ of 21 October 2003, were welcomed.

The Commission, for its part, believes that the IAEA has managed to shed light on a number of failures and breaches by Iran in relation to its implementation of the (Nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement. It, nonetheless, appreciates that Iran appears to have entered into a new and improved phase of cooperation with the Agency.

The Commission has no reason to believe that the information collected by the Director-General as a basis for the Board's discussions and the resulting resolution, has not been adequate. It appreciates that Iran has invited the IAEA to set up relevant verification mechanisms, a process the Commission believes is of utmost importance and which will have to be followed closely.

The Commission notes that the Director-General of the IAEA is scheduled to deliver another report by mid February 2004. It has no specific additional information about further nuclear activity on Iranian soil. The Commission is aware of information relating to certain countries believed to have cooperated with Iran on its nuclear programme. It is, at this stage, not yet in a position to be able to comment in any greater detail on this matter, but looks forward to the results of the further investigations carried out by the IAEA.