Within the framework of the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative, the 13th EU CBRN CoE National Focal Points (NFPs) Round Table Meeting for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region convened on October 17, 2024, at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City Hotel.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including National Focal Points and representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and the GCC Emergency Management Center (GCC-EMC). Participants also included both former and current program managers of the European Union Foreign Policy Instrument (EU-FPI) for the GCC Region, the On-Site Technical Assistance (OSA) expert for GCC, and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) Regional Coordinators for the GCC and Middle East regions. Additionally, project teams for Project 106, which focused on tabletop, field exercises, Simulation and Training (TEST), and Project 97, aimed at the Improvement of chemical safety and security in the Middle East Region, were in attendance.
The meeting was chaired and opened by the Head of Secretariat, Brigadier Hussain Al-Harthi, who opened the first session with a statement emphasizing the significance of continued collaboration within the EU CBRN CoE framework. Ms. Alexandra Lehmann and Mr. Balazs Maar, Project Managers for the EU Foreign Policy Instrument, highlighted the significance of the Round Table Meeting as a platform for exploring and discussing common ideas, priorities, and activities to address transnational threats related to CBRN risks.
The gathering facilitated the exchange of information on relevant CBRN activities and challenges among CoE stakeholders and partner countries. Representatives engaged in strategic discussions, sharing their countries’ perspectives on current CBRN needs, priorities and challenges as well as discussing ongoing and future regional projects, such as P82 on medical preparedness and response to CBRN incidents.
Dr. Peter Clevestig, the OSA Expert for the GCC, provided an overview of the objectives for Phase 2 of the P82 project, which aims at enhancing the capabilities of trainers for national CBRN medical intervention training and overseeing the delivery of these programs in each GCC partner country. This included a briefing on the upcoming "Train-The-Trainers" program for medical response to CBRN hazardous materials incidents, scheduled from November 4-15, 2024.
Mr. John Jones, Team Leader of Project 106, introduced the project focused on tabletop, field exercises, simulation, and training (TEST), including the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and methodology, facilitating an open discussion to gather insights on the specific needs and requirements of GCC partner countries.
The meeting also featured a session on regional action plans and regional risk assessment tools, led by Mr. Adil Radoini, Regional Coordinator for UNICRI, and Dr. Peter Clevestig. Additionally, Mr. Ahmed Nagy from the EU CBRN CoE Project 97 team provided an overview of the project focused on improving chemical safety and security in the Middle East. His presentation discussed proposed activities and the potential for tailoring specific work packages to the needs of the GCC partner countries, laying the groundwork for the adoption of this new regional project.
Ms. Heba Mariey, Regional Coordinator for the GCC region at UNICRI, then briefed attendees on the upcoming 2nd Edition of the CBRN CoE Academy for National Focal Points and Heads of Secretariats of the EU CBRN CoE, scheduled to take place in Turin, Italy, from November 19 to 21, 2024.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to several key follow-up actions, including the implementation plan for Phase 2 of P82, the adoption of a new regional project on chemical safety and security, and the identification of training needs and priorities under Project 106.
About the EU CBRN CoE Initiative
The European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) is a global Initiative funded and implemented by the EU as part of its goal to promote peace, stability, and conflict prevention. The aim of the Initiative is to mitigate risks and strengthen all-hazards security governance in Partner Countries of the EU, following a voluntary and demand-driven approach. The EU CBRN CoE is led by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), in close coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS). The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides technical support to Partner Countries, while the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) ensures a coherent and effective national, regional and international cooperation. The initiative involves 64 countries in 8 regions of the world.
