BRUSSELS (Yonhap News) ― European Council President Herman Van Rompuy called for “concrete commitments” to prevent threats of nuclear terrorism and tighten control of atomic safety at next week’s Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.

In a written interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, Van Rompuy also said “synergies” between nuclear security and the safety of atomic energy are important following Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, backing calls for the United Nations nuclear watchdog to have a greater role in developing a “system of global nuclear security governance.”

Representatives from 58 nations and four international organizations, including 45 heads of state, will attend the two-day Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul from Monday.

The inaugural summit was held in Washington two years ago and the second Seoul summit is aimed at laying out more specific actions to secure the management of loose nuclear materials, guarantee radiological security and combat illicit trafficking.

“I expect to see concrete commitments from participants and hope that several will make announcements in this regard,” Van Rompuy said ahead of his visit to Seoul to attend the summit.

“Following the Fukushima experience, it will also be important to further develop synergies between nuclear safety and nuclear security,” he said. “In a longer-term perspective, the system of global nuclear security governance should be further developed. The IAEA should continue to play a central role.”

Areas of Japan’s northeast were devastated last March by a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami that also crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, releasing radioactive materials.

The accident, classified as the worst nuclear calamity since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, prompted countries with nuclear power plants to further review the safety of their atomic energy.

The following are excerpts from Yonhap News Agency’s interview with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

Question: What do you think is the special meaning and purpose of the second Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul?

Answer: The threat of nuclear terrorism has not diminished, therefore we continue to strongly support the goals of the summit.

Seoul will be an important yardstick to measure progress in efforts to strengthen nuclear security following the first summit in Washington. It will also be an occasion to set possible additional priorities, which could help countries to reach high nuclear security standards

Q: What do you think is the most important and urgent agenda item for the upcoming nuclear summit?

A: The summit is going to review how much progress there has been in securing all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. I expect to see concrete commitments from participants and hope that several will make announcements in this regard.

Q: What special agenda will the EU bring to the Seoul summit?

A: The EU has always been engaged in international efforts to strengthen nuclear security. We consider ourselves a forerunner in this field, internationally and domestically. We will bring to the Summit the EU’s expertise and our willingness to cooperate, which has already benefited many third countries, directly and through the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund.

We welcome that in addition to nuclear materials, the Seoul Summit will also pay attention to the risks posed by radioactive sources and other radioactive materials. Moreover, the EU is very committed to strengthening information security, which should prevent terrorists from getting access to sensitive information related to nuclear and radioactive materials. On the more operational side, the EU is very active in developing nuclear forensics capabilities which are crucial for the detection of the origin of stolen nuclear and radioactive materials. Our research centers carry out important work in this regard.

Q: What do you think should be the main objective or direction of the nuclear summit in the future?

A: We should continue efforts to develop a strong and robust global nuclear security culture. I hope that all countries join international conventions and strengthen their national legislation and practices. Nuclear security can only be ensured if all actors involved, from the governmental to the nuclear operator level, are following the highest possible standards. Following the Fukushima experience, it will also be important to further develop synergies between nuclear safety and nuclear security. In a longer-term perspective, the system of global nuclear security governance should be further developed. The IAEA should continue to play a central role.

Q: There is an ongoing debate between those who favor increasing the number of participating countries in the summit and those who oppose the idea. What is the European Union’s position on the issue?

A: The EU welcomes the larger number of participating countries. More importantly, it is crucial to continue and strengthen outreach activities to non-participants. Reaching high standards of nuclear security is a global endeavor. It can only be reached if awareness in each and every country is raised and everybody contributes to the objective of strong nuclear security.

Q: How would you describe the level of cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and what do you think is the most important issue in further developing the relationship in the future?

A: Over the last two years, we have seen an important upgrading of our relations (and the) signature of two landmark agreements ― the Framework Agreement and Free Trade Agreement. At the last EU-ROK summit in October 2010 in Brussels the strategic partnership between the ROK and the EU was declared. Our cooperation is increasing across the board. Our trade and economic relations are deepening because of the FTA. We are also building a strong political component into our relations, (and) strengthening cooperation on regional security issues such as Iran and Syria. We are also stepping up cooperation on global issues of common concern and in key sectors; e.g. on climate change, science and technology, on development policy and the environment.

Our relations have entered into a new stage. Now, the most important issue is to fulfill the potential of these new agreements and the strategic partnership. We are like-minded partners and have many common interests. Hence, we should work more closely together.

We have to keep up the momentum.

Q: What role could the EU play for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

A: The EU has close economic and political ties with East Asia.

The EU therefore attaches great importance to maintaining stability in the region and reducing tensions on the Peninsula. We remain very concerned over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs as well as human rights situation. The inter-Korean tensions have also increased in recent years. We have set strong sanctions against North Korea, but ultimately, dialogue remains essential for dealing with these issues. This is why we have consistently called for multilateral discussions and for inter-Korean dialogue.

While the EU is not participating in the six-party talks, we play an active supporting role. We will also continue our policy of critical engagement with Pyongyang through which we encourage the DPRK (North Korea) to reduce tensions, engage in dialogue, fulfill its international obligations and commitments and in general to improve the situation of its people. We work closely with our international partners in pursuit of these goals.

As regards East Asia more broadly, the EU is interested in playing a more active role in the emerging regional architecture.

Over a period of 60 years, Europe has lived through a unique process of regional cooperation and integration and put into practice the notion of “cooperative security.” We therefore believe that we can make a positive contribution to Asia’s own discussions about future regional cooperation.

Q: The Free Trade Agreement between Korea and EU came into effect in July last year. What is your forecast for the economic relations between two sides?

A: The EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a milestone in the bilateral trade and investment relations. Since the application of the FTA, both sides are intensively working on ensuring its effective implementation, so that the economic operators on both sides can reap the benefits of the Agreement.

The FTA is expected to boost exports, competitiveness and investment in both the Korean and the EU economies in the long run.

It also confirms both sides’ commitment to free trade in times when many nations revert to protectionism instead of openness.

The FTA, by removing tariffs at unprecedented speed and resolving many non-tariff barriers, is facilitating trade and thereby contributing to greater economic integration between the two sides. Of course, one cannot neglect the short-term impact of the economic situation in Europe on the bilateral trade relations.

However, over time, free trade is one of the tools that will boost economic growth and prosperity on both sides.

Q: Is there anything you would like to say to the Korean public?

A: The EU and Korea share important fundamental values of human rights and democracy. The EU considers Korea as a like-minded partner on the world stage. Our relations are thriving but we want to work even more closely together in the future.

Your successful transition to democracy and economic development presents a powerful example to many countries around the world.

Koreans can be proud that their country is using its political and economic weight for good in different countries ― from its contributions to policy-building on nuclear security and economic governance to the individual work of your peacekeepers and development workers located around the world.