This is the second such seminar held between the EU and Iran on the basis of a joint initiative of cooperation.
The EU and Iran had successfully held a first high-level seminar on 'International Nuclear Cooperation: Expectations and Responsibilities' in Brussels on 28 February, said the statement.
This week's seminar provided a platform for follow-up of the previous seminar, including fruitful high level exchanges on how to advance peaceful nuclear cooperation, as foreseen under Annex III of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which makes a major contribution to the successful implementation of the JCPOA, it said.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi in the seminar expressed his appreciation of the progress achieved so far, which opens a new chapter in nuclear cooperation under the Annex III of the JCPOA between the EU and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Other senior Iranian participants included Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs and Behrouz Kamalvandi, Deputy for International, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the AEOI, and prominent parliamentarians. Senior participants from the EU included Helga Schmid, Secretary General of the European External Action Service, Dominique Ristori, Director General of DG ENER, Stefano Manservisi, Director General of DG DEVCO, as well as Patrick Child, Deputy Director General of DG RTD and a representative of DG JRC.
Other participants included representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, some E3+3 countries, as well as a number of scientists and engineers.
The EU stressed that it remains fully committed to the full implementation of the JCPOA, the statement said.
The EU views the full and sincere implementation of the JCPOA`s Annex III as an essential element for long-term sustainability of the agreement. The JCPOA also paves the way for enlarged partnership across a number of areas such as energy, climate, culture, trade, investment and agriculture, it said.
The discussions during the seminar provided ample examples of the growing cooperation between the EU and Iran in the civil nuclear area such as the previous week's visits of a high-ranking delegation of Iranians scientists to the EU Joint Research Centre.
The seminar offered the opportunity to review in detail the latest developments in the area of nuclear governance, including nuclear safety, the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, as well as nuclear liability.
The seminar reinforced both sides' clear understanding that international nuclear co-operation and nuclear governance are important elements which should be developed in parallel in order to optimize benefits for all sides.
Both sides also agreed to continue deepening their co-operation in further developing the safe use of nuclear energy, and the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. In this regard, the EU notes recent progress, in particular the submission of the bill of accession to the Joint Convention of Spent Fuel Management and Nuclear Waste Management to the parliament.
A number of cooperation projects are already being implemented such as support for Iran's nuclear regulatory authority, INRA, support for Bushehr stress tests, joint R&D activities and the carrying out of a feasibility study on the establishment of a Nuclear Safety Centre in Iran.
The EU is fully supportive of facilitating scientific cooperation within the framework of the EU's research and innovation program, Horizon 2020, and the Euratom Research and Training Programme.
A roadmap on nuclear R&D cooperation was agreed and endorsed during the seminar.
Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the impressive progress achieved so far in the areas of nuclear co-operation and governance.
They agreed to hold a follow-up high- level seminar to be organized by the EU before the end of 2018.
They also agreed to organize other joint activities, including a workshop on nuclear liability and insurance.
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Publish Date: 22 November 2017 - 19:00
Isfahan, Nov 22, IRNA – Isfahan on Wednesday hosted and issued a statement on the second EU-Iran high-level seminar on International nuclear cooperation, progress and prospects.