Plaid Cymru Euro-MP Jill Evans MEP today led calls in the European Parliament for the EU to act to outlaw nuclear weapons at critical international talks to be held at the UN this May. The Welsh Euro-MP and Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader is a long-standing anti-nuclear campaigner and Chair of CND Cymru.

Speaking in a key debate in the European Parliament, Ms Evans demanded that the European Union commits itself to full implementation of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty ahead of the key UN meeting in May. She reminded members of the 15 nation assembly that Wales had declared itself nuclear free as far back as 1982.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Jill Evans MEP said:

"The Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT is an agreement by 189 nations to eliminate nuclear weapons. Yet nearly 34 years after it entered into force in 1970, we are in a situation where the United States is willing to launch pre-emptive strikes using nuclear weapons and the UK refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons in Iraq.

“Nuclear weapons testing continues, nuclear weapons are still considered a vital part of NATO defence planning, new generations of battlefield nuclear weapons are being developed and the nuclearisation of space is well underway.

"Nuclear weapons make the world more insecure and more dangerous. We are talking here about real weapons of mass destruction and an opportunity to destroy them in the most effective way - by enforcing international agreements. My constituency, Wales, declared itself nuclear free in 1982.

"The UN talks will be critical in settling whether real progress can be made in outlawing nuclear weapons totally in the next few years. The European Union has a duty to take a leading role in this and to ensure that real action is taken. This is an area in which the European Union can wield huge influence and be a force for making the world a safer place."

Ms Evans added after the debate:

"We now need action. We heard some fine words from the EU on outlawing nuclear proliferation but we heard no commitment on nuclear disarmament nor on an end to nuclear testing. This is not the time for equivocation and oscillation - it is time for the EU to decide whether it stands for nuclear weapons or for nuclear disarmament."

Jill Evans presents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament

Note: The debate in parliament came about as a result of question to the European Presidency, Commission and Council laid down by Ms Evans' parliamentary group. The 189 countries signed up to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty come together at the UN every five years to undertake a review - the next takes place in May 2005. In the intervening years Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meetings are held to lay the ground for the review meetings. The EU will be represented at the next PrepCom to be held at the UN in New York this May. The meeting is widely seen as critical in establishing the effectiveness and relevance of the NPT.

Diwedd/Ends.