The European Commission and member states of the European Union (EU) have started negotiations to secure new nuclear safety protocols with the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA). The protocols are designed to improve international non-proliferation and increase world-wide nuclear security.
The initiative involves the negotiation of protocols with both nuclear-weapon owning states and non-nuclear states. Experiences with both Iraq and North Korea have indicated that the existing system of protocols, which only deals with nuclear facilities that countries declare, needs strengthening. The new protocols would permit undeclared facilities to become the focus of IAEA interest too.