ABSTRACT
Since 1970, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has provided a unique regulatory framework. The success of the treaty has been significant in the realm of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy but not in the area of nuclear disarmament. Non-nuclear-weapon states have grown impatient at a time when increasing polarisation and regional conflicts create mistrust in the principle of deterrence. The fact that the five nuclear-weapon states recognised by the NPT have not continued on a path of nuclear disarmament since 2010 has contributed to persistent suspicion about their genuine intentions to pursue nuclear disarmament. This, in turn, has made it more difficult to reach consensus in traditional disarmament forums. In this context, there is growing questioning of the special status granted to nuclear-weapon states in the NPT. The adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2017 is seen by many states as the only way to make progress on this issue. In this chapter, we try to discern whether there is a common position by the European Union (EU) on nuclear disarmament emphasising the fact that Union's action on nuclear disarmament is limited by the asymmetry in nuclear status and attitudes towards nuclear deterrence among its member states.
