International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting on 8-12 June 2026 in Vienna.
Agenda item 4: Strengthening of the Agency’s technical cooperation activities – Technical Cooperation Report for 2025.
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Arti Hilpus on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.
Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Estonia.
We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Cyprus on behalf of the European Union.
We thank the Director General for the Technical Cooperation Report 2025 as contained in document GOV/2026/16 and support its transmittal to the upcoming General Conference for information.
We commend the Agency for the effective implementation of the Technical Cooperation Programme, which supports Member States in utilizing peaceful nuclear applications to advance their national, regional, and interregional development priorities.
We acknowledge the central role of the TC programme as a key statutory function of the Agency and as an essential instrument for promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, while contributing to sustainable development objectives.
For the Nordic and Baltic countries, the TC programme also provides a vehicle to contribute demonstrably to the implementation of Article IV of the NPT.
Mr. Chair,
Our countries support the Agency’s technical cooperation activities in particular in the areas of health, nutrition, food and agriculture, protection of environment, and nuclear and radiation safety.
We also acknowledge the Agency‘s continued efforts in advancing the flagship initiatives such as Rays of Hope, ZODIAC, NUTEC Plastics and Atoms4Food aimed at addressing global challenges, including cancer care, zoonotic diseases, plastic pollution and food security. At the same time, we underline the importance to ensure their proper coordination with other similar initiatives and TC-related activities within the UN framework to avoid duplication.
Mr Chair,
We welcome the fact that the TC programme maintained a high implementation rate of the Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF). At the same time, we recognize the increasing demands by Member States for technical assistance and underline the importance of ensuring that the programme remains funded in a predictable manner.
The Nordic and Baltic countries remain committed to full and timely payment of their assessed contributions to the TC Fund. We encourage other Member States to do the same.
We also underline the importance of enhanced efficiency, effectiveness and results-based delivery of the TC programme to maximise its impact. We welcome continued efforts to increase female participation in TC activities and encourage the Secretariat to further ensure the promotion of gender equality and gender mainstreaming. We commend the Agency for the successful implementation of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme and Lise Meitner Programme.
Finally Chair,
The Nordic and Baltic countries remain firmly committed to promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in a manner that upholds the highest level of safety, security, and non-proliferation, for the benefit of all Member States.
Thank you.
