The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met in Vienna from 2 to 6 March.
Ambassador Debora Lepre, representing Italy, reiterated in her various statements the strong commitment of our country to supporting the activities of the IAEA and its crucial role in ensuring security, non-proliferation and the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
In light of the most recent geopolitical developments, discussions focused on Iran’s nuclear activities, due to the related proliferation risks, and on the situation in Ukraine, where the continuation of hostilities and the ongoing large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure are further undermining the safety of nuclear power plants, starting with the Zaporizhzhya facility. In this regard, the Board adopted a specific resolution.
The Agency’s reviews on nuclear safety, nuclear security and nuclear technologies were also discussed, with particular attention to the prospects of small modular reactors and fusion energy, as well as to the civilian applications of nuclear science, within the framework of the priority initiatives launched by the IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi. While highlighting the important role of nuclear energy and technology in achieving sustainable development, Ambassador Lepre also emphasized the numerous collaborations between the Agency and Italy in the fields of training, research and development, food security, medicine, and capacity building for developing countries.
