Activities

The Istituto Affari Internazionali is pleased to invite you on March 18th, 2025 at 5 p.m. CET to the upcoming webinar dedicated to the launch event of The European Union's Nuclear Non-proliferation Policy, the third book in the Trends and Perspectives in International Politics series, edited by IAI for Routledge. The event aims to give selected speakers and the public a fruitful occasion to understand the development and performance of the EU’s nuclear governance policies as crucial for assessing its role as a Normative Power. The author Manuel Herrera, along with Professor Clara Portela will provide an analysis of the intricacy of its evolving non-proliferation policy, shedding light on the complexities of European nuclear diplomacy. Click here to register.    

On 4 December 2024, Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate at the VCDNP, and Paola Tessari, Senior Research Fellow at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), joined professor Erzsébet N. Rózsa and the faculty of the Ludovika University of Public Service at a public event aimed at engaging students and young scholars to raise awareness of arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament issues. The event was organised in cooperation with the HUN-REN CERS Institute of World Economics in Budapest. Federica Dall'Arche (right) and Paola Tessari (left) During the first panel discussion, Ms. Dall’Arche and Ms. Tessari shared their experience as researchers and professionals in the field of arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament. They also introduced the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) – a group of six European research organisations, including the VCDNP and IAI – and the opportunities it offers to young professionals. Among these is the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative, an effort of the EUNPDC to encourage young women and the next generation to enter the non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament field. The discussion, titled “Weapons Proliferation at Land and at Sea”, saw the participation of current and former EUNPDC interns as well as faculty members of the Ludovika University of Public Service: Gyula Speck, Assistant Lecturer and former EUNPDC intern, examined how Afghanistan's enduring state fragility has facilitated the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), highlighting the complex interplay between weak governance and uncontrolled SALW flows and the need for tailored approaches to address such challenges. The presentation was based on the recent EUNPDC publication: SALW Proliferation and State Fragility. Virág Novák-Varró, Assistant Lecturer, focused on the threats posed by landmines, using Afghanistan as a case study to illustrate their devastating impact. The presentation emphasised the importance of raising awareness through community engagement while stressing the need for innovative approaches. Ms. Novak-Varro highlighted that certain existing methods have inadvertently exposed especially children to greater risks. She stressed the importance of reformulating military strategies to ensure the protection of civilians. She also advocated for tailored games and exercises designed to teach children how to recognise and avoid landmines. Right to left: Virág Novák-Varró, András Bartók and Gyula Speck András Bartók, Associate Lecturer and current EUNPDC intern, focused on weapons proliferation in the 21st century within the naval domain, shedding light on its implications for global security. The presentation emphasised the evolving nature of maritime threats, including the challenges posed by advanced weapons technologies and the increased accessibility of naval armaments. Mr. Bartók highlighted the need for enhanced international cooperation and robust regulatory frameworks to curb proliferation, while also addressing gaps in existing approaches to ensure that they effectively tackle emerging risks in the maritime sphere. The panel discussion sparked a great level of curiosity among students, who asked questions, demonstrating a genuine interest to learn more. Both panels were moderated by Erzsébet N. Rózsa, Professor at Ludovika University andAdvisor at the HUN-REN CERS Institute of World Economics. The visit was organised in the framework of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative. The YWNGI, an effort of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium, is possible thanks to the generous support of theEuropean Union. The VCDNP and IAI thank the HUN-REN CERS Institute of World Economics and the Ludovika University of Public Service for hosting this event.    

On March 13-14, 2015, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) hosted a two-day diplomatic workshop in Annecy, France on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The workshop was supported by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. It consisted of seven sessions, with one moderator and three commentators designated for each session.

Despite broad agreement among diplomats in attendance on the need to strengthen the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear nonproliferation regime, significant differences were evident regarding the path forward. Key sources of tension include: disappointment about the pace of progress on nuclear disarmament, frustration over the failure to convene a conference on the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East (MEWMDFZ), and disagreement over the future direction of the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons (HINW) movement. Against this backdrop, Annecy workshop participants discussed how to build upon the 2010 NPT Action Plan and considered concrete proposals that might contribute to a successful 2015 NPT RevCon. 2015 Annecy Workshop: Looking for Common Ground Ahead of the NPT RevCon