EU holds meeting on reduction of chemical hazards in Amman

The European Union announced Tuesday that the first round-table meeting of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence (CoE) initiative in the Middle East will be held in Amman on September 5 at the Middle East Scientific Institute for Security (MESIS). The event aims at bolstering cooperation amongst Middle East countries, EU stakeholders, the United Nations and other international organizations, according to a press release by the European Commission in Jordan. Participants will discuss the current state of play of the initiative in the Middle East, the possible role of the CBRN Centres of Excellence in supporting bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the CBRN methodology and the different ways for each stakeholder to be further involved. It is expected that at the end of the conference, each actor will have a better understanding of the EU initiative, and of the means and ways of possible cooperation and coordination with the CBRN Centres of Excellence as well as of the sources of necessary information. This event will pave the way for a successful implementation of the activities and projects aiming to reinforce partner countries CBRN policies. Participants include representatives of the Middle East countries, EU Institutions (European Commission, EU Delegation, and European Agencies), the United Nations and international and non-governmental actors. Specialized local and international institutions and organizations will be also attending as well as some EU strategic partners that are supporting this initiative. The creation of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence (CoE) aims at implementing a coordinated strategy for CBRN risk mitigation at the international, regional and national levels. The origin of the risk can be criminal (proliferation, theft, sabotage and illicit trafficking), accidental (industrial catastrophes, in particular chemical or nuclear, waste treatment and transport) or natural (mainly pandemics).