Funded by the European Union
Within the framework of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) initiative, the 9th Round-table meeting for Central Asia took place in Tashkent on 11–12 March 2019. The round-table meeting was organized by the CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat for Central Asia with close support from the European Commission DG DEVCO and UNICRI.
The meeting was attended by the National Focal Points and representatives of partner countries of the Region, namely Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Members of the National CBRN Team, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Emergency Situations from the Republic of Uzbekistan were also present at the meeting. Representatives from other relevant entities such as NATO’s Science for Peace Programme, the European Space Agency, the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), Bundeswehr, the Pasteur Institute (Dakar) and the International Water Management Institute also participated.
The meeting allowed partner countries to review the activities implemented in the Region thus far, as well as to assess the progress of two projects (Project 53 and Project 65) being implemented in Central Asia within the framework of the EU CBRN CoE initiative.
Afghanistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan presented an overview of their finalized CBRN National Action Plans during the meeting. This represented an important achievement for the Region, where other countries are undertaking Needs Assessment Questionnaires to develop their respective CBRN National Action Plans. This discussion on National Action Plans was instrumental in identifying common needs and allowed partner countries to also discuss the possibility to develop a Regional Action Plan for Central Asia, drawing upon the CBRN CoE National Action Plans as well as the Action Plans developed pursuant to the UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for partner countries to consider development of new project activities, by gaining inspiration from EU CBRN CoE projects in other regions (such as the Mediterranean Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training – MediPIET; Towards Stronger Transnational Labour Inspection Cooperation – STRONGLABS; and MediLabSecure) and to consider funding opportunities under NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme. Presentations from European Union, ISTC, Bundeswehr and Pasteur Institute also enlightened the participants about other projects in Central Asian region and the usefulness of Mobile Laboratories and other equipment.
The meeting concluded with a discussion and demarcation of next steps to be taken by the Regional Secretariat in the near future.
The EU CBRN CoE Initiative is funded by the European Commission and implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). The European External Action Service is also involved in the follow-up to the initiative. The initiative is developed with the technical support of relevant international and regional organizations, the EU Member States, and other stakeholders, through coherent and effective cooperation at the national, regional and international level. The initiative involves 61 countries in 8 regions of the world.