International Cooperation in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Field: EU Centres of Excellence initiative and other related programme

Abstract

Introduction: In 2010, the European Union launched the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative (CoE) to mitigate CBRN threats outside its borders that could pose a risk to the EU. The initiative establishes multilateral partnerships with 63 partner countries across eight regions worldwide. Its aim is to help partner countries develop National Action Plans (NAPs) and build and strengthen local risk mitigation capacities. Methodology: This study's methodological framework relies on a comprehensive analysis of secondary qualitative sources. These sources include reports and resolutions from the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors and the European Parliament. It also examines official documents and digital resources from major international organisations, as well as peer-reviewed academic literature and scientific monographs. Results: The study highlights that the EU CBRN CoE's institutional architecture is based on robust internal coordination networks involving key stakeholders such as the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). These bodies are coordinated by the European Commission's Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) service, which acts as the initiative's decision-making body alongside the European External Action Service (EEAS). The CoEs have achieved several major milestones. They have done a great job of improving the world's preparedness for disease outbreaks, including those caused by COVD-19, Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases. The article illustrates how the CoE initiative collaborates with other international organisations and key stakeholders, creating mutual leverage and synergies in the process. However, the results suggest that the initiative is facing challenges. For instance, individual donor programmes tend to operate in isolation from one another, and insufficient communication exists between different international actors in partner countries to prevent their work from overlapping. Conclusion: In order to ensure long-term sustainability, the EU CBRN CoE must evolve into a global coordination platform. The study concludes that the FPI, EEAS, JRC and UNICRI need to develop a more synchronised strategy. Additionally, the political support of EU delegations must be strengthened. Ultimately, partner countries should be supported in establishing a single, flexible national strategy that aligns the requirements of all international stakeholders, thereby avoiding the duplication of capacity-building efforts.