Summary: January 21, 2002: Statement delivered by the Spanish Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the introduction of the euro in the IAEA. International Atomic Energy Agency - Board of Governors. Informal meeting of the Programme and Budget Committee (Vienna)
Mr. Chairman,
I speak on behalf of the European Union and the following associated countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia and Turkey.
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to take advantage of this meeting to recall that some months ago the EU expressed in this room the opinion that the IAEA, where 82 % of the expenditures are in euro, could benefit from its introduction as the sole currency in the Agency's assessment system.
In the meantime, several important events have taken place. First among them, the successful introduction of euro coins and banknotes on 1st January 2002 for 300 million Europeans in twelve countries, including the Agency's host country. Secondly, UNIDO, who in 1999 decided to "switch to the euro," has begun the new year with a budget stated in euro and the transition has run very smoothly. Finally, the IAEA Secretariat has carried out a series of compulsory technical changes and has, by now,
become familiar, as we all have, with the new currency.
The time is now ripe for the EU to begin the dialogue with Members States and the Secretariat. In this respect, we intend to enter soon into consultations with interested parties in order to present our arguments and listen to their comments. We look forward to this process, which undoubtedly will be of great help to us in the elaboration of definite proposals and their presentation to the policy-making organs at an appropriate time.
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