On 2 September 2015, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation hosted a seminar by Dr. Stephan Klement, Head of the Euratom Co-ordination and International Relations Unit at the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy, entitled “Nuclear Negotiations with Iran: An EU Perspective.” Dr. Klement shared some insights gleaned from his eleven years of participation on behalf of the European Union in the Iran negotiations. More than 100 individuals from Vienna-based embassies and missions, international organizations, media, academia, and civil society attended the event.
Dr. Klement began the seminar with a historical perspective on the European Union’s role in the negotiations with Iran dating back to 2003. He then provided an overview on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the agreement reached with Iran by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union on July 14, 2015—and the negotiation process that led to it. Dr. Klement highlighted some key elements of the JCPOA, including the “breakout time” concept, the nuclear research and development aspect, and the “possible military dimensions” debate. He also touched upon the ongoing approval process for the JCPOA currently underway and its eventual implementation.
The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session.
