News
First anniversary of the African Atlantic Façade Regional Secretariat
EU CBRN Risk Mitigation CoE Initiative
Rabat, 15 April 2014.
Funded by the European Union
High-level CBRN expert event for the first anniversary of the establishment of the Regional Secretariat and round table meeting of National Focal Points
Rabat (Morocco) April 14-16
Within the framework of the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) initiative, a three day high-level event will be organized. The event will bring together representatives from the European Union (EU delegation in Morocco, European Commission), the Kingdom of Morocco (Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, Civil Protection), partner countries and National Focal Points from the African Atlantic Façade region to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of the Regional Secretariat and launch an expert round table meeting of the CBRN National Focal Points.
The Regional Secretariat for the African Atlantic Façade region was inaugurated in March 2013 and has eight partner countries, namely: Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal and Togo. Activities in the region have been taking place since 2011 and the establishment of the Secretariat strengthens and reaffirms the progress achieved by partners of the initiative in the region based on a voluntary and bottom-up approach:
- National Focal Points have been designated in each country by their government;
- National CBRN Team including representatives from all relevant ministries dealing with CBRN matters (interior, civil protection, police, health, environment, research, industry, ….) have also been established;
- CBRN needs assessment are being carried out (Morocco, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal), on a voluntary basis, with the technical (experts) and financial support of the EC, with the aim to support the establishment of CBRN National Plans in countries;
- in total 13 regional projects funded by the EC (the latest related to the management of chemical and biological wastes, which is officially kicked off during this event) have been launched;
- new projects based on regional priorities identified by national representatives and experts from the African Atlantic Façade will be discussed during the Round Table, in particular, the possibility of developing future projects in the region will be examined during the round table meeting with a special focus on the chemical and biological risk management;
The EU CBRN CoE initiative aims to mitigate CBRN risks of criminal, accidental or natural origin by promoting a coherent policy, improving coordination and preparedness at national and regional levels and by offering a comprehensive approach covering legal, scientific, lawenforcement and technical issues.
The initiative involves 45 countries in 8 regions of the world. The initiative is implemented and funded by the EU (European Commission) under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). The European External Action Service (EEAS-“foreign affairs service” of the EU ) is also involved in the strategic and political steering of the initiative. The initiative is developed with the technical support of relevant International and Regional Organisations, the EU Member States and other stakeholders, through coherent and effective cooperation at the national, regional and international level.
For more information:
CBRN Centres of Excellence website:
http://www.cbrn-coe.eu/
European Commission, Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace website:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/fpi/what-we-do/instrument_contributing_to_stability_and_peace_en.htm
Rabat, 15 April 2014.
Funded by the European Union
High-level CBRN expert event for the first anniversary of the establishment of the Regional Secretariat and round table meeting of National Focal Points
Rabat (Morocco) April 14-16
Within the framework of the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) initiative, a three day high-level event will be organized. The event will bring together representatives from the European Union (EU delegation in Morocco, European Commission), the Kingdom of Morocco (Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, Civil Protection), partner countries and National Focal Points from the African Atlantic Façade region to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of the Regional Secretariat and launch an expert round table meeting of the CBRN National Focal Points.
The Regional Secretariat for the African Atlantic Façade region was inaugurated in March 2013 and has eight partner countries, namely: Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal and Togo. Activities in the region have been taking place since 2011 and the establishment of the Secretariat strengthens and reaffirms the progress achieved by partners of the initiative in the region based on a voluntary and bottom-up approach:
- National Focal Points have been designated in each country by their government;
- National CBRN Team including representatives from all relevant ministries dealing with CBRN matters (interior, civil protection, police, health, environment, research, industry, ….) have also been established;
- CBRN needs assessment are being carried out (Morocco, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal), on a voluntary basis, with the technical (experts) and financial support of the EC, with the aim to support the establishment of CBRN National Plans in countries;
- in total 13 regional projects funded by the EC (the latest related to the management of chemical and biological wastes, which is officially kicked off during this event) have been launched;
- new projects based on regional priorities identified by national representatives and experts from the African Atlantic Façade will be discussed during the Round Table, in particular, the possibility of developing future projects in the region will be examined during the round table meeting with a special focus on the chemical and biological risk management;
The EU CBRN CoE initiative aims to mitigate CBRN risks of criminal, accidental or natural origin by promoting a coherent policy, improving coordination and preparedness at national and regional levels and by offering a comprehensive approach covering legal, scientific, lawenforcement and technical issues.
The initiative involves 45 countries in 8 regions of the world. The initiative is implemented and funded by the EU (European Commission) under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). The European External Action Service (EEAS-“foreign affairs service” of the EU ) is also involved in the strategic and political steering of the initiative. The initiative is developed with the technical support of relevant International and Regional Organisations, the EU Member States and other stakeholders, through coherent and effective cooperation at the national, regional and international level.
For more information:
CBRN Centres of Excellence website:
http://www.cbrn-coe.eu/
European Commission, Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace website:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/fpi/what-we-do/instrument_contributing_to_stability_and_peace_en.htm