Atoms for peace (1953) address made by President Eisenhower to the UN General Assembly suggested setting up an international Atomic Energy Agency that would devise ways so that “fissionable material would be allocated to serve the peaceful pursuits of mankind especially the production of electric energy.” The address was the foundation for the establishment of the IAEA.
Although an IAEA was not set up until 1957, the US made a major effort to share knowledge with nonnuclear countries and help them set up nuclear power reactors.
Cooperation agreements were signed with more than 30 nations that received US aid in exchange for pledges not to use nuclear power for military uses.
In 1957 Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed a treaty which established the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Initially it was created to coordinate the Member States’ research programs for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The treaty ensures security of supply and prevents nuclear materials intended principally for civilian use from being diverted to military use.