PROJECT 079: On-site Technical Support to CBRN Centre of Excellence (CoE) in TBILISI

Context

Georgia is currently hosting the European's Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centers of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative. A previous on-site assistance was already deployed in the region during the period 2015-2018.

The EU CBRN CoE intiative addresses the mitigation of and preparedness against risks related to CBRN material and agents through the implementation of concrete actions in the areas of export control of dual-use goods, illicit trafficking of CBRN materials, bio-safety and bio-security, chemical waste etc. Such initiative gathers several partner countries across the globe, grouped around 8 Regional Secretariats. An On-Site technical assistance (OSA) team is available at the Regional Secretariats to provide technical support to the CBRN Centres of Excellence (CoE).

Overall objective

To strengthen the long-term national and regional capabilities of responsible authorities and administrative infrastructures to develop durable cooperation in the fight against CBRN threats.

Specific objectives

To contribute to strengthen the long-term national and regional CBRN governance and capabilities for CBRN risk mitigation and response to CBRN incidents in the South East and Eastern Europe CoE region.

Activities

1. Provide local technical assistance to the National Focal Points and National Teams, to the Regional Secretariats and within the implementation of CoE projects;
2. Coordination, management and quality of results.

Achievements

• OSA team introduced NAQ/NAP approach, materials and ways to develop national CBRN risk mitigation strategies and action plans to national teams of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Ukraine during country visits;
• OSA team assisted Georgia in NAP 2015 -2019 final implementation review meeting, updating of existed CBRN threat reduction strategy and drafting of next national action plan;
• OSA team assisted in collection, systematization and identification of regional priority needs for new regional projects on a) Front Line Biosafety and Biosecurity and b) CBRN Critical Infrastructure Protection and Security;
• OSA team recruited and coordinated national NKEs in 7 countries for identification of national priority needs afterwards collected, summarized, and sent to JRC for further development of the RAP.