The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) launched a joint project today to prevent acts of nuclear terrorism.

This will be done through the promotion of the universal ratification and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), Xinhua news agency reported.

"The risk of terrorists gaining access to nuclear and radiological materials is a significant threat to humanity and international peace and security.

"Unfortunately, we know that the possibility of such materials falling into the hands of terrorists is real," said Vladimir Voronkov, under-secretary-general of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, at the opening of the launch event in New York.

Pedro Serrano, deputy secretary-general of the European External Action Service, said that the international community must remain united to prevent the threat of nuclear terrorism.

According to the press release, the joint project is "a testament of shared commitment of the UN and the EU to address this challenge".

ICSANT was adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly in 2005 and has 115 signatories to date.

- Bernama