42nd IAEA General Conference

Italy, Mr. Reno Serri, Senator, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

He underlined the contribution of the Agency to the economic prosperity in many countries and the achievement of peace in the world through the safeguards verifications to implement the Non Proliferation Treaty. He formally announced Italy’s decision to allocate a substantial contribution to the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Fund, underlining Italy’s commitment to the Agency’s activities, in particular those related to the safeguards verification programme and nuclear non-proliferation. He stressed that the current trends, such as the stagnation of nuclear power in many parts of the world, public concern over safety, waste disposal and proliferation risks and the competition between nuclear applications and other technologies, should have strong influence on the Agency’s programmes over the coming years. He further emphasized that the Secretariat should assist Member States in identifying priorities in order to reconcile a Zero Real Growth budget and that older programmes, He also referred to Italy’s appreciation of the fact that the Agency’s programmes are based on three pillars, "technology, safety and verification" which constitute the so called "one-house approach" to strategic planning. He attached special importance to themes such as new safeguards activities to implement the States’ nuclear non-proliferation obligations, nuclear power plant safety, safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, safe management of irradiated nuclear fuel, decommissioning of nuclear installations and the maximum use of "spin-offs" from nuclear energy in the technical cooperation with developing countries. He expressed his confidence that new challenging tasks will be assigned to the IAEA in the near future, such as the reduction of fissile material, military stockpile and the new verification activities. He emphasized the international community’s concern over the safety of the old ex-Soviet Union power plants and the issue of safe nuclear waste disposal, urging all Member States to give the necessary technical and financial support. He noted that the European Union is giving large financial support to help States of Eastern and Central Europe improve nuclear safety. He further pointed out that programmes should be set up in the IAEA to combine safety analysis methodology and nuclear technology development activities, stressing that the minimum acceptable share of the Regular Budget allocated to nuclear safety should be 10%. He went on to say that Italy in 1990 decided to close down all nuclear power plants and to abandon nuclear fission as an energy option, although pursuing to maintain domestic competency in the relevant nuclear matters and mainly participating in international activities. He pointed out that the International Convention on Nuclear safety entered into force in Italy in July 1998, and that Italy signed the relevant International Convention related to radioactive waste and spent fuel management. Further, he stated that the formerly two main national nuclear plants operators in Italy are carrying out activities respectively related to the realization of dry-storage facilities for spent fuel and to the treatment and conditioning of radwaste stored in pilot fuel cycle facilities. He also said that the Italian Parliament and the Government aim to set up the legal framework for the safe management of radwaste and decommissioning. He welcomed and encouraged IAEA efforts in the field of spent fuel management, handling, processing and storage of radioactive waste and radioactive waste disposal with particular reference to the concept of a "multinational repository".

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Italy, Mr. Reno Serri, Senator, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:



He underlined the contribution of the Agency to the economic prosperity in many countries and the achievement of peace in the world through the safeguards verifications to implement the Non Proliferation Treaty. He formally announced Italy’s decision to allocate a substantial contribution to the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Fund, underlining Italy’s commitment to the Agency’s activities, in particular those related to the safeguards verification programme and nuclear non-proliferation. He stressed that the current trends, such as the stagnation of nuclear power in many parts of the world, public concern over safety, waste disposal and proliferation risks and the competition between nuclear applications and other technologies, should have strong influence on the Agency’s programmes over the coming years. He further emphasized that the Secretariat should assist Member States in identifying priorities in order to reconcile a Zero Real Growth budget and that older programmes, He also referred to Italy’s appreciation of the fact that the Agency’s programmes are based on three pillars, "technology, safety and verification" which constitute the so called "one-house approach" to strategic planning. He attached special importance to themes such as new safeguards activities to implement the States’ nuclear non-proliferation obligations, nuclear power plant safety, safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, safe management of irradiated nuclear fuel, decommissioning of nuclear installations and the maximum use of "spin-offs" from nuclear energy in the technical cooperation with developing countries. He expressed his confidence that new challenging tasks will be assigned to the IAEA in the near future, such as the reduction of fissile material, military stockpile and the new verification activities. He emphasized the international community’s concern over the safety of the old ex-Soviet Union power plants and the issue of safe nuclear waste disposal, urging all Member States to give the necessary technical and financial support. He noted that the European Union is giving large financial support to help States of Eastern and Central Europe improve nuclear safety. He further pointed out that programmes should be set up in the IAEA to combine safety analysis methodology and nuclear technology development activities, stressing that the minimum acceptable share of the Regular Budget allocated to nuclear safety should be 10%. He went on to say that Italy in 1990 decided to close down all nuclear power plants and to abandon nuclear fission as an energy option, although pursuing to maintain domestic competency in the relevant nuclear matters and mainly participating in international activities. He pointed out that the International Convention on Nuclear safety entered into force in Italy in July 1998, and that Italy signed the relevant International Convention related to radioactive waste and spent fuel management. Further, he stated that the formerly two main national nuclear plants operators in Italy are carrying out activities respectively related to the realization of dry-storage facilities for spent fuel and to the treatment and conditioning of radwaste stored in pilot fuel cycle facilities. He also said that the Italian Parliament and the Government aim to set up the legal framework for the safe management of radwaste and decommissioning. He welcomed and encouraged IAEA efforts in the field of spent fuel management, handling, processing and storage of radioactive waste and radioactive waste disposal with particular reference to the concept of a "multinational repository".