The CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat for the Middle East region is located in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is hosted by the Middle East Scientific Institute for Security (MESIS) based in Amman.
The Secretariat plays a major role in helping achieve the objectives of the CBRN CoE through ensuring a good level of cooperation and coordination among the three Partner Countries. The Regional Secretariat also provides support with the engagement of regional and international technical partners, potential donors and other stakeholders in the area of CBRN risk mitigation. It contributes to build local ownership and to a greater sustainability of the CBRN CoE network.
- Protection of Critical Infrastructures
- Chemical Security and Safety
- CBRN Forensics
- Field Exercises to test and validate Partner Countries’ capabilities
- Support the Middle East CBRN National Teams/Committees to fulfil their mandates
- Support Partner Countries in updating and implementing the CBRN National Action Plans
- Support the Regional Action Plan (RAP) development and implementation
- Assist in monitoring the ongoing CBRN CoE projects
- Organise regional Round-Table Meetings (RTMs), Field Exercises and visibility events
- Provide technical support upon request of the partner countries
- Reinforce the outreach to and coordination with EU Member States, international organisations and donors
- Promote the use of local expertise and facilities
- Reinforce the cooperation with other CoE regions
The region participated in 24 projects, 6 of which are ongoing:
- P89 - EU P2P Export Control Programme for Dual-use Goods - Middle East
- P76 STRONGLABS - Preventing biological risks increased by environmental and climate change by strengthening Public Health Laboratories
- P75 MEDILABSECURE - Preventing biological risks increased by environmental and climate change in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Sahel regions by strengthening institutional capacities in the context of One Health
- P74 MEDIPIET - Mediterranean and Black Sea field epidemiology training programme network to increase security in the EU neighbourhood
- P73 - Protection of Critical Infrastructures
- P56 - On-Site Technical Assistance to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence Secretariats in Algiers and Tashkent
- The three countries, namely Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon completed and obtained the governmental endorsement of their National Action Plans (NAPs). Iraq is working through the CBRN CoE to integrate the safety perspective on the existing NAP. Partner Countries used the Needs Assessment Questionnaire methodology developed by the CBRN Centres of Excellence
- The Region was the first within the Initiative to elaborate a CBRN Regional Action Plan (RAP), endorsed by the Middle East National Focal Points in June 2018
- The Region has implemented the first pilot activities of the Regional Schools of Excellence using the regional experts and facilities
- Biannual Regional Round Table Meetings have been organised regularly since 2011 in Amman, Beirut and Brussels
- Cooperation with the main international organizations (INTERPOL, IAEA, OPCW, UNSC 1540 Committee, UNDP, UNODA), and partners (German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control - BAFA, Embassies of Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Canada and the United States) and initiatives (FALCON Inter-Arab Exercise on Emergency Cooperation)
- Several International Meetings of National Focal Points were organised at the United Nations Headquarters (2012), the European Union Headquarters (2013), the European Commission Joint Research Centre (2014), Genval (2015), Brussels (2018, 2022) and La Hulpe (2016 and 2019).
- More than 15 workshops were organised with the CBRN National Teams in the region
- In December 2021, Lebanon hosted in Aramoun (South Beirut) the ARZ field exercise to improve first responders’ capabilities during different phases of CBRN terrorism events
Latest news from Middle East
Prospective study shows effectiveness in the control of leishmaniasis vectors
First-of-its-kind study suggests insecticide thermal fogging can play important role in reducing transmission of neglected vector-borne disease
- CoE Region
- MIE - Middle EastNAS - North Africa and SahelSEEE - South East and Eastern Europe
New EU CBRN CoE Newsletter released
Latest issue highlights Lebanon’s CBRN counter-terrorism field exercise, a series of CBRN Forensics Guidebooks, gender parity within the CBRN domain, and more
- CoE Region
- AAF - African Atlantic FaçadeCA - Central AsiaECA - Eastern and Central AfricaGCC - Gulf Cooperation Council CountriesMIE - Middle EastNAS - North Africa and SahelSEA - Southeast AsiaSEEE - South East and Eastern Europe
Improving chemical and nuclear security practices - simulation exercise in Lebanon
A two full-day field exercise held in South Beirut tested Lebanese first response capabilities during the different phases of a CBRN terrorism emergency.
- CoE Region
- MIE - Middle East