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On March 28-April 1, 2022 Lithuanian delegation participated in the Review Conference of the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material held in Vienna. Representative of the Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) also worked in the delegation.

During the conference, Lithuania condemned Russia's unprovoked, unjustifiable military aggression in Ukraine and called on the international community to pay special attention to the importance of ensuring the protection of nuclear facilities and materials in Ukraine. Lithuania also supported the IAEA Director General's initiative to promote a set of practical commitments to ensure that Ukraine receives the necessary assistance in the field of nuclear safety and security as soon as possible. This aspect was emphasized by most of the countries that participated at the conference.

In the national statement, Lithuania reported that all the recommendations and suggestions made by the team of experts during the IAEA International Physical Security Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission in 2017 have been implemented and the follow-up IPPAS mission will be invited in the near future. Lithuania also called on states, which have not done it so far, including neighbouring state Belarus, to ratify the Amendment to the Convention without any further delay in order to ensure proper protection of their nuclear facilities and materials in line with international standards.

During topical sessions, member countries presented the progress of the implementation of the Amendment of the Convention in the areas of physical protection, international cooperation, criminalization of illegal acts, and provision of information on the national legal system to the IAEA.

The objective of the Amendment of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material is to achieve and maintain worldwide effective physical protection of nuclear material used for peaceful purposes and of nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes, to prevent and combat offences relating to such material and facilities worldwide, as well as to facilitate co-operation among States Parties to those ends. An Amendment to the Convention was signed in 2005 in Vienna. This Amendment extended the scope of the existing Convention, signed in 1979, which previously regulated only the physical protection of nuclear material during transport between countries and the physical protection of its use, storage and transport within the country.


Lithuania acceded to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in 1993, and ratified its Amendment in May 2008.

There are currently 164 States Parties to the Convention, 129 of which have ratified the Amendment to the Convention.