Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan gathered on November 18, 2024 in Turin, Italy at the United Nations Campus for the 22nd Regional Strategic Coordination Meeting of National Focal Points for Central Asia, organized under the European Union (EU) Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence (CoE) Risk Mitigation Initiative. The meeting underscored the crucial role of regional cooperation in strengthening preparedness, response, and recovery mechanisms against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
The day-long meeting commenced with welcoming remarks by Mr. Abduvakkos Rafikov, Head of the Regional Secretariat for Central Asia; Mr. Sorin Popa, EU CBRN CoE Programme Manager from the Foreign Policy Instrument Service of the European Commission; and Ms. Marian De Bruijn, Head of the CBRN Programme at UNICRI. The agenda focused on a range of critical issues related to CBRN risk mitigation in the region.
The meeting provided an opportunity for comprehensive updates detailing ongoing CBRN-related activities and collaborative engagements across the region. Participants engaged in a thorough discussion to identify potential priority areas for future project ideation and development, focusing on enhancing regional capabilities. Additionally, participants discussed the importance of strengthening preparedness for CBRN threats through the practical application of knowledge and skills during field and tabletop exercises.
The 22nd Regional Strategic Coordination Meeting served as a significant platform for strengthening partnerships and advancing joint efforts toward a safer and more secure Central Asia.
Background information
The EU CBRN CoE Initiative is a global Initiative funded and implemented by the European Union as part of its goal to promote peace, stability and conflict prevention.
The aim of the Initiative is to mitigate risks and strengthen an all-hazards security governance in Partner Countries of the EU following a voluntary and demand-driven approach. The EU support is provided to implement a wide range of CBRN risk mitigation activities including needs and risk assessments, national and regional action plans, capacity building activities, legal framework reviews, tabletop and real-time (including cross-border) field exercises, inter-regional exchange of best practices and lessons learnt.
Funded and implemented through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe, the Initiative is led by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), in close coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS). The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides technical support to Partner Countries, while the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) ensures a coherent and effective national, regional and international cooperation. Other relevant international and regional organisations and experts also contribute to the Initiative, which involves 64 countries in 8 regions of the world. This makes it the EU’s largest civilian external security programme.
