Status: 02/20/2023 15:10
To prepare for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, the EU is establishing emergency reserves in three other countries. The backdrop is also Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The EU expands strategic stockpiles for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats to three more locations in Europe. In addition to Finland, France, Croatia and Poland also want to keep the corresponding material worth a total of almost 546 million euros, as announced by the European Commission in Brussels.
The EU wants to be better prepared
Stockpiles include antidotes, antibiotics, vaccines, tranquilizers and protective equipment such as gas masks, protective clothing, chemical detectors and radiation meters, among others. They can be used, for example, in case of a nuclear accident, a leak from a chemical plant or a terrorist attack.
The EU also cited Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as a backdrop. This highlighted the need for a strategic reserve of essential medicines and protective equipment, especially in the event of nuclear, biological or chemical attacks or accidents. EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic said the war shows the EU needs to be better prepared for CBRN risks.
Biggest threats to public health
Last year, the EU defined nuclear or chemical-biological threats as one of the greatest threats to public health. In addition, pathogens with high pandemic potential and antimicrobial resistance were mentioned. They all pose serious cross-border health risks, he said.
EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides stressed that countermeasures must be available quickly in the event of a threat. Important goods were sometimes in short supply, especially at the start of the corona pandemic.
Once stockpiles are built up, Member States can request material from stocks through the Emergency Coordination Centre. Alongside the establishment of the four reservations, the EU Commission has recently called on Member States to come forward with new proposals on how they intend to respond to certain emergencies. These are measures worth €636 million.