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
- Hazardous Materials Transportation
- 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 events (e.g. Round-Table Meetings, 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 27 projects, 8 of which are ongoing:
- P97Improvement of Chemical Safety and Security in the Middle East.
- P94 On-site technical assistance to the EU chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear Centres of Excellence regional secretariats.
- P92 MediLabSecure phase II, Preventing biological risks increased by environmental and climate change.
- 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
- Achievement 1 - ARZ 2021 and ARZ 2023 CBRN Counter-Terrorism Field Exercise: Lebanon organized an international counter-terrorism field exercise that took place in Beirut, Lebanon in December 2021 in partnership with several international organizations and partner countries. Lebanon, with the support of the Regional Secretariat is organizing a new Field Exercise to take place in October 2023 in Beirut.
- Achievement 2 - The Middle East CBRN Regional Action Plan: The Middle East Region was the first within the Initiative to elaborate a CBRN Regional Action Plan (RAP) in June 2018. Several priorities were implemented. The Regional Secretariat is now planning its update and review.
- Achievement 3 - The first CBRN Conference for the Arab Region: The Amman Regional Secretariat, with the support of the Regional Secretariats in Abu Dhabi, Algiers and Rabat organized the first CBRN Conference for the Arab Region in Cairo at the HQs of the League of Arab States.
Latest news from Middle East
During the first meeting under the 2024 Italian Presidency of the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (the Global Partnership), Heads of Secretariat spoke with one voice on behalf of 64 Partner Countries
- CoE Region
- AAF - African Atlantic Façade
- CA - Central Asia
- ECA - Eastern and Central Africa
- GCC - Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
- MIE - Middle East
- NAS - North Africa and Sahel
- SEA - Southeast Asia
- SEEE - South East and Eastern Europe
Around 50 countries across 10 regions will participate in the three-year EU-funded projects, promoting safe and secure international trade of goods with civilian and military applications
- CoE Region
- AAF - African Atlantic Façade
- CA - Central Asia
- ECA - Eastern and Central Africa
- GCC - Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
- MIE - Middle East
- NAS - North Africa and Sahel
- SEA - Southeast Asia
- SEEE - South East and Eastern Europe
The European Union supported Iraq to find consensus for its CBRN National Action Plan, a strategic document setting out priorities to enhance CBRN risk mitigation.
- CoE Region
- MIE - Middle East