This year's meeting marks the thirtieth anniversary of the first regular NSG Plenary session, which was held also in Warsaw in April 1992. On that time the NSG Participating Governments made decisions of historic importance for the exports control of materials that may be used in the production of nuclear weapons: the Plenary adopted the “Warsaw Guidelines” for transfers of nuclear-related dual-use equipment, material and related technology, accompanied by the list of nuclear-related dual-use items.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group was established in 1974. It is an export control regime of nuclear materials and technologies as well as dual-use goods and technologies. The NSG operates as an informal agreement of Participating Governments to offer support for the control of nuclear exports with the aim to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons or their components. Currently there are 48 Governments participating in the NSG (Poland has been a member since 1978) and European Commission and Zangger Committee are allowed as observers.

Poland took over the chairmanship of the NSG at the plenary meeting in Brussels in June 2021. In consequence Mr. Tomasz Łękarski of the MFA was appointed Chair of the Group. The activities of the Polish Chairmanship were initially focused on ensuring the continuation of NSG work in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and on conducting outreach meetings with countries not participating in the NSG. It was important to ensure the continuation of the technical work of NSG taking into account particularly sensitive role of the NSG in the global architecture of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The plenary session in Warsaw (June 20-24) concludes Poland's one-year Chairmanship. Participating Governments approved Argentina as the next Chair of the NSG for term 2022-2023. Minister Zbigniew Rau congratulated Ambassador Gustavo Eduardo Ainchil of his election as the new NSG Chair.

 

Łukasz Jasina

MFA Press Spokesperson

 

Photo: Bartosz Peterman / MFA