Response by the EU CBRN Centre of Excellence in South East and Eastern Europe : South East and Eastern Europe. 1st Issue - September 2020.
Date: 2020-12-03
Institutions: Joint Research Centre
Subjects: Central Asia, EU activity, coronavirus disease, international cooperation

1st Issue - September 2020

COVID-

SOUTH EAST AND EASTERN EUROPE

Response by the EU CBRN Centre of 
Excellence in South East & Eastern Europe 

19

Introduction
The  Novel  Coronavirus 
(COVID-19) 
pandemic  has  a  long-lasting  significant 
health  impact  worldwide.  The  European 
Union’s  Chemical,  Biological,  Radiological 
and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence 
Initiative  was  seriously  tested  during  its 
10th anniversary with the global outbreak 

of  COVID-19  pandemic.  Along  with  other 
61  member  states  of  the  EU  CBRN  CoE 
Initiative,  countries  of  the  South  East  and 
Eastern  Europe  (SEEE)  region  benefited 
from  different  projects  completed  in  the 
areas  of  bio-safety  and  bio-security. 
Additional  projects  and  activities  are 
being  implemented  and  planned  in  this 

region,  as  the  aftermath  and  duration  of 
this  global  crisis  remains  to  be  seen.  In 
this  situation,  the  adaptability  to  existing 
realities,  quick 
response  mechanisms 
triggered by partners of the Initiative, and 
smart  use  of  existing  network  of  experts 
will  demonstrate  viability  of  this  initiative 
in the long run. 

Historical Projects
Since  the  launch  of  the  EU  CBRN  CoE 
Initiative  a  decade  ago,  countries  of 
the  SEEE  region  benefited  from  a  wide 
spectrum  of  different  projects  and 
activities covering all CBRN modalities. In 
terms of biological safety and security our 
partner  countries  significantly  benefited 
from  a  few  projects  completed  recently. 
Valuable  knowledge  obtained 
the 
course  of  various  capacity  building  and 
training  activities  along  with  donated 
equipment,  allowed  some  of  the  National 
Focal  Points  and  their  national  experts 
to  perform  their  professional  duties  with 
more  professional  confidence.  Especially, 
those officers and experts who are in the 
forefront of their national response to fight 
with  the  COVID-19  pandemic  using  their 
experience  and  knowledge  accumulated 
during this period.  

in 

Project 37
to 
The  MediLabSecure  Project  aims 
increase 
in  EU-
the  health  security 
neighbouring  countries  by  strengthening 
the  preparedness  capacities  to  emerging 
viral  diseases  and  bio-safety  risks  at 
national and regional levels. The project is 

Project 37: Training activity

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern Europe 
not  recognize  any  borders  and  impacts. 
Nowadays,  we  realize  the  importance  of 
a  framework  for  regional  cooperation  and 
sharing  of  information  between  countries 
in  the  SEEE  region,  which  was  established 
within  the  framework  of  the  project  entitled 
Strengthening  CBRN 
First  Response 
Capabilities and Regional Cooperation.

responders  on  CBRN  events  and  Standard 
Operating  Procedures  (SOP),  which  were 
elaborated 
in  each  country’s  national 
language within the framework of the project.

This  project  was  completed  in  2018  and 
benefited  9  partner  countries  from  the 
Western  Balkan  and  Black  Sea  regions. 
The  overall  objective  of  this  project  was 
aimed  at  enhancing  response  capabilities 
and  promoting  inter-agency  and  regional 
cooperation  among  first  responders  of 
beneficiary  countries.  It  was  focused  on 
general  components  of  CBRN  emergency 
the  civil  protection 
response, 
incidents,  establishment  of 
during 
safety  perimeters  (quarantine  zones, 
in 
the  case  of  biological  emergencies)  and 
countries 
decontamination.  Nowadays, 
use  General  Operational  Guidelines  for  first 

including 

the 

Project 44: Activity in Albania

based on capacity building and institutional 
networking  by  promoting  a  One  Health 
approach. During its first phase completed 
in  2018,  the  project  implemented  several 
training  activities  combining  theoretical 
and hands-on modules that improved the 
national laboratories diagnostic capacities 
for 
the  early  detection  of  emerging 
arboviruses.  The  training  activities  also 
transfer  of  biosafety  best 
promoted 
laboratory 
addressing 
by 
biosecurity  and  biosafety  aspects  such 
as  biocontainment  in  BSL-3  laboratories, 
biorisk  management  and  shipment  of 
substances.

practices 

Project 44 
Coordination  and  communication  between 
different  national  stakeholders  represent 
paramount 
importance  for  efficient  and 
timely  response  to  a  CBRN  incident,  which 
can  be  a  natural  disaster  or  an  accident. 
The  COVID-19  pandemic  has  proven  its 
extreme  level  of  difficulty,  since  it  does 

Project 44: Activity in Albania

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern Europefor 

Projects 57 and 58
Countries in the SEEE region have a well-
traditional 
established  and  developed 
forensic  capabilities 
investigation 
and  preparation  of  court  cases.  At  the 
same  time,  knowledge  and  equipment  to 
carry  out  traditional  forensics  in  a  CBRN 
improvement. 
environment 
required 
Strengthening  crime  scene 
forensic 
investigating  CBRN 
in 
capabilities 
incidents  in  the  South  East  and  Eastern 
Europe  region  was  aimed  to  address 
these needs and gaps. Completed in early 
2020, this project aimed to strengthen the 
existing  traditional  forensic  capabilities 
in  investigating  CBRN  incidents  among 
police and security experts and developed 
a training system for forensic investigation 
in  CBRN-related  cases.  The  project  also 
fostered the establishment of networks of 
CBRN  and  forensics-related  institutions 
and networks of forensics experts dealing 
with  investigations  at  the  sub-regional 
level. 

As part of success stories, some countries 
developed and integrated SOPs in the field 
of  CBRN  forensics  at  the  governmental 
and  ministerial  levels,  which  will  allow 
countries  to  readily  deploy  them 
in 
the  future.  Several  partner  countries 
integrated  training  courses  developed 
during  the  project  as  part  of  their 
training  curricula  within  their  respective 
Police  Academies.  Forensic  equipment 
received in the framework of the separate 
project  on  CBRN  SEEE  Equipment  for 
significantly 
forensics 
traditional 
strengthened 
forensic  capabilities 
investigating 
CBRN  incidents  among  police  experts. 
As  the  new  threats  emerged  during  the 
COVID-19  pandemic,  CBRN 
forensic 
teams  trained  within  the  framework  of 
project  57  and  58,  demonstrated  their 
versatility and adaptability by undertaking 
preventive  activities  and  measures  such 
as  disinfection  of  police  stations,  border 
control  checkpoints,  primary  detention 
units and other targeted places.

(Project  58), 
existing 
in 

Ongoing initiatives: 
Some  of 
the  ongoing  projects  were 
launched  recently,  which  will  allow  our 
member  countries  to  properly  address 

Project 57: Train-the-Trainers (TTT) course 

Project 57: Training activity

Project 58: Equipment received by Serbia

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern Europein  this  field. 
other  needs  and  gaps 
the  COVID-19  outbreak 
Aftermath  of 
clearly demonstrated the need to deal with 
extremely  dangerous  CBRN  materials, 
including  biological  waste.  CBRN  waste 
materials  originated  from  local  hospitals 
and  health  care  system, 
laboratories, 
industries,  historical 
industrial  sites, 
agriculture,  mining,  warehouses,  former 
illegal 
installation,  former  and 
military 
waste  dumping  sites  and 
inadequate 
waste  disposal  facilities  and  sites  require 
stringent  management 
partner 
countries.

by 

Project 67
Launched in July 2018, the Strengthening 
CBRN  Waste  Management  Capabilities 
Project  in  SEEE  region,  aims  to  support 
the  long-term  objectives  of  the  partner 
countries  governments  to  develop  and 
manage  their  hazardous  CBRN  waste 
materials,  resources  and  contaminated 
environments,  as  well  as  the  safe  and 
secure  handling,  transportation  and  the 
disposal  of  CBRN  waste  in  the  industry 
and  in  the  public  domain.  In  the  long  run 
partner  countries  will  be  able  to  enhance 
their legal framework through identification 
of  gaps  in  existing  laws  and  regulations, 
develop  SOPs  and  Methodologies  to  deal 
with safe and secure storage and disposal 
of  hazardous  waste  materials  (including 
COVID-19 contaminated waste materials), 
capabilities 
strengthen 
through  training  and  exercises,  foster  the 
establishment  of  national  and  regional 
experts and institutions’ networks.

existing 

the 

Project 67: Pictures from waste treatment facility in Montenegro

Health  Institutes  along  18  Mediterranean 
and  Black  Sea  countries  are  enrolled 
in  the  third  cohort  of  the  2-year  Field 
Epidemiology Training Program (Advanced 

FETP).  As  a  workplace  learning  program, 
fellows  gain  the  knowledge  and  skills 
to  do  their  job  better;  the  international 
dimension enables to bring them together, 

Project 74
The  general  objective  of  MediPIET 
is  to  enhance  health  security 
in  the 
Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, by 
supporting capacity building for prevention 
and  control  of  natural  or  man-made 
health  hazards,  posed  by  communicable 
diseases  and  CBRN  threats  through  the 
roll-out of a sustainable field epidemiology 
training  program,  the  training  of  trainers 
and  the  dissemination  of  experience, 
knowledge  and  skills  among  the  network 
members and the active collaboration with 
other projects/networks. 

Currently,  15  new  fellows  from  Public 

Project 74: Training module on “Computer tools for outbreak investigation” that took place in Belgrade

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern Europeand  with  other  EU  experts,  for  cross-
fertilization  and  harmonized  approaches. 
A total of 11 fellows are in the SEEE region 
and  are  part  of  their  countries’  national 
response  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic, 
participating  in  surveillance,  screening  at 
ports  of  entry,  development  of  guidelines 
and  communication  materials,  training 
of  health  professionals  and  information 
sharing  with  the  general  public.  Overall, 
the  MediPIET  FETP  and  network  have 
contributed  to  improve  preparedness  and 
response  against  cross-border  threats 
such as SARS-CoV-2.

including  an  extension  of 

Project 75
The second phase of the MediLabSecure 
project  has  been  launched  in  January 
2019 
its 
geographical coverage and a broadening 
if  its  actions  to  enhance  preparedness 
and  response  capacities  to  emerging 
biological risks.

As  such,  since  the  beginning  of  the 
COVID-19 sanitary crisis, the project has 
been  directly  involved  in  the  epidemic 
preparedness  within  the  MediLabSecure 
network  by  supporting  the  initiation  of 

the 

their  SARS-CoV-2  diagnostic  capacities 
technical 
sharing  of 
through 
tools 
information  and  diagnostic 
to 
laboratories. 
the  COVID-19  reference 
Thanks  to  this  support, 
initial  cases 
were  diagnosed  by  national  reference 
laboratories 
in  partner  countries  of 
the  SEEE  region.  An  External  Quality 
Assessment  exercise  on  coronavirus 
including  the  SARS-CoV-2  new  virus  is 
currently  in  progress  in  several  partner 
countries  of  the  SEEE  region  in  order  to 
assess the proper implementation of the 
SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic.

Support during the 
COVID-19 confinement 
period 
For the purpose of reducing unexpected 
negative  consequences  linked  with  the 
COVID-19  confinement  and  quarantine 
measures  enforced  by  many  countries, 
the  EU  CBRN  CoE  Regional  Secretariat 
for  SEEE  region  continued  rendering 
its  support  to  10  countries  in  order 
to  meet  their  expectations.  This  work 
in  close  cooperation 
was  conducted 
with  the  European  Commission’s  (EC) 
International 
Directorate-General 
(DG 
Cooperation  and  Development 
Interregional 
DEVCO),  United  Nations 
Crime  and  Justice  Research  Institute 
(UNICRI), EC Joint Research Centre (JRC), 
National  Focal  Points  (NFP),  National 
Experts,  project  consortia  members 
and  On-Site  Technical  Assistance  key 
experts.

for 

Webinars and workshops 
Joint efforts in this direction demonstrated 
adaptability  to  existing  conditions  and 
offer  a  variety  of  webinars  to  our  partner 
countries  based  on  their  needs  and 
priorities.  Fourteen  webinars  and  expert 
tele-workshops  were 
by 
MediPIET,  UNICRI,  Regional  Secretariat 
right  after  beginning  of  confinement  in 
April  and  lasted  till  the  end  of  July  2020. 
Some  of  these  webinars  and  workshops 
were  offered  to  all  regions  of  the  CBRN 
CoE Initiative. 

organized 

Webinar backdrop used for Case & Contact Management

Webinar backdrop used for Clinical Case Management and Infection Detection & Control

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern EuropeInitiative, 

Within  the  framework  of  the  EU  CBRN 
the 
Centres  of  Excellence 
Regional  Secretariat  for  South  East  and 
Eastern Europe have launched a series of 
webinars  aimed  to  help  partner  countries 
the  COVID-19 
with  management  of 
crisis.  Following  active  participation  and 
valuable  contribution  of  relevant  experts 
from  the  Central  Asian  region  and  the 
Regional Secretariat for Central Asia, these 
webinars have become inter-regional. Two 
Inter-Regional  Webinars  were  conducted 
for  partner  countries  of  the  South  East 
and  Eastern  Europe  region  in  July  and 
September 2020 respectively: 
• COVID-19 Case and Contact Management 
•  COVID-19  Clinical  Case  Management 
and Infection Detection & Control.

Virtual online meetings
The  Regional  Secretariat  for  South  East 
&  Eastern  Europe  region  organized  three 
virtual  online  meetings.  These  meetings 
were  closely  coordinated  with  the  JRC, 
Regional  Secretariat  and  Projects  53 
and  67  consortia.  Partner  countries  were 
encouraged  to  express  their  individual 
country needs within the framework of the 
project on Strengthening the National Legal 
Framework  and  Provision  of  Specialized 
Training  on  Bio  Safety  and  Bio  Security. 
They were also updated on progress made 
on  project  entitled  Strengthening  CBRN 
Waste Management Capabilities Project in 
SEEE region. 

Information and Guidance
Eighteen  pieces  of  guidance  information 
and  instructions,  leaflets  and  documents 
were  shared  with  our  NFPs  with  request 
to  disseminate  further  to  relevant  end 
users useful to perform their professional 
activities  during  and  post  COVID-19 
pandemic  confinement.  The  primary 
objective  of  this  information  was  to  send 
it  to  the  right  persons  at  right  point  in 
time  received  from  diverse  sources  of 
information.

Training Modules
In  order  to  strengthen  the  surveillance 
and  protection  capacities  of  healthcare 
workers, the MediLabSecure public health 
working group coordinated by the Istituto 
Superiore di Sanità (ISS) developed an off-

line  training  course  on  Preparedness  and 
Response  to  the  Health  Emergency  from 
Novel Coronavirus SARS CoV-2 structured 
into three learning units: 

to all countries of the Initiative aimed with 
the  purpose  to  identify  individual  country 
needs and priorities. 

1 

Features of SARS CoV-2 emergency: 
Preparedness and Response to the 
Health Emergency from novel  
Coronavirus SARS CoV-2.

2 

Surveillance, identification and 
management of suspects and cases: 
Preparedness and Response to the 
Health Emergency from novel  
Coronavirus SARS CoV-2.

3

Information for the health  
personnel on prevention, identification 
and control in clinical and community 
settings: Preparedness and Response 
to the Health.

Reallocation and reconfiguration 
In  order  to  better  address  needs  and 
expectations  of  partner  countries,  the 
European  Commission  ensured  quick 
reallocation  of  existing  budget  and 
extension  of  existing  project  beyond 
Central Asia towards South East & Eastern 
Europe  region,  reinforcement  of  existing 
training modules, adapting them to current 
realities, organizing interregional workshop 
on  lessons  learned  from  the  COVID-19 
pandemic  and  addressing 
immediate 
needs of countries in terms of consumables 
and small number of equipment.  

the  National 

Project 53
Legal 
Strengthening 
Framework  and  Provision  of  Specialized 
Training  on  Bio  Safety  and  Bio  Security 
was launched in December 2015 to cover 
Central  Asian  region.  Given  the  urgent 

Project 53: Training activity

response 

need  expressed  by  the  SEEE  region  it 
was  agreed  to  extend  this  project  to  the 
SEEE  region  in  order  to  address  existing 
training  needs  and  provide  some  small-
scale supplies. This project will also raise 
awareness  and  promote  collaboration 
the  Biosafety,  Biosecurity, 
regarding 
incident 
emergency 
management  issues  among  the  national, 
regional  and  international  stakeholders. 
Additionally,  an  EU  CBRN  CoE  –  BACAC 
(Biosafety Association for Central Asia and 
Caucasus)  conference  on  “Challenges  for 
Biosafety/Biosecurity  Lessons  Learned 
from Coronavirus Crisis” will be conducted 
with experts from CA and SEEE regions, EU 
and international organizations.

and 

Recovery Plan 
The beauty of the EU’s CBRN CoE Initiative 
resides 
in  the  so  called  “bottom-up” 
methodology based on voluntary approach, 
which  advocates  for  tailored  method  in 
identifying  country  needs  with  priorities 
and  turning  them  into  reality,  whereby 
initiative  comes 
the  beneficiary 
from 
member  states.  Following  this  logic,  the 
Regional  Secretariat  disseminated  the 
“EU CBRN CoE Survey on National Needs 
and  Support  During  the  COVID-19  Crisis” 

LIONSHIELD-2: Field Exercise 
Another  activity  aimed  to  enhance  the 
CRBN  capabilities  of  the  SEEE  Region 
is  the  continued  planning  of  a  follow-
up  Field  Exercise  to  LIONSHIELD-1.  It 
was  agreed  to  initiate  another  practical 
exercise  after  successful  implementation 
of  the  LIONSHIELD-1:  Field  Exercise  on 
Nuclear Security, held in Tbilisi, Georgia in 
June  2018.    In  the  aftermath  of  Covid-19, 
Ukraine  kindly  offered  to  host  the  second 
field  exercise  with  a  focus  on  biosafety/
biosecurity.  Moreover,  all  National  Focal 
Points of the SEEE Region agreed that there 

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern Europe 
LIONSHIELD-1 Field exercise

will  be  the  third  LIONSHIELD  exercise  in 
Serbia in order to maintain the momentum 
and  this  time 
it  will  cover  chemical 
security  issue.    In  conjunction  with  the 
LIONSHIELD-2 exercise in Ukraine, the EU 
is also planning a series of visibility events 
to not only highlight this exercise, but also 
the  decade  of  achievements  of  the  EU 
CBRN Centres of Excellence programme in 
Ukraine.

New Project on CBRN medical 
emergencies
Additional  new  project  is  currently  being 
considered  by  the  European  Commission 
to be funded from the 2020 budget in near 
future.  Given  the  COVID-19  pandemic 
situation  worldwide  this  project  will  be 
very  much  beneficial  for  the  SEEE  region 
which is aimed to strengthen and enhance 
medical  emergency  preparedness  and 
response capabilities in our region. 

Majority  of  the  SEEE  participant  countries 
lacking  sustainable 
training  systems 
to  ensure 
regular  standardized  and 
recognized  training  and  education  for  first 
medical  and  paramedical  responders  as 
well  as  hospital  emergency  staffs  and 
emergency  medical  managers.  It  will  help 

partner  countries  to  ensure  minimization 
of  health  consequences  and  human 
losses following the CBRN accident and/or 
emergency.  Several  CoE  partner  countries 
have  developed  activities  addressing  this 
concern at national level or in collaboration 
with 
international  organisations.  The 
improvement is expected in CBRN Medical 
Emergency  Preparedness  and  Response 
with  support  of  EU  legislation,  regulations, 
good  practices  and  technologies.  Also, 
horizontal  cooperation  among  services 
at  national  as  well  as  international  levels 
CBRN  Medical  Emergency  Preparedness 
and Response can be improved.

Terms  of  reference  for  this  project  was 
jointly  developed  by  national  experts  of 
the  SEEE  region  together  with  the  OSA 
key expert and eventually submitted to the 
European  Commission’s  consideration  in 
February 2020.

Biosafety Association for Central Asia and 
Caucasus (BACAC) conference in SEEE
Since its establishment in November 2008, 
the  BACAC  made  significant  progress 
aimed  towards    strengthening  biosafety 
and  biosecurity  and  establishing  an 
effective  regional  network  of  world-class 
experts in the Central Asia and Caucasus 
regions. As part of its professional mandate 
the  Assiciation  facilitates  exchange  of 
information,  conducts  training  activities, 
shares  international  best  practices,  and 
promotes research and cooperation.

on 

lessons 

In  2021  the  South  East  and  Eastern 
Europe  region  will  host  the  next  BACAC 
Conference  which  will  be  dedicated  to 
Challenges for Biosafety and Biosecurity, 
from 
based 
Coronavirus  Crisis.  Georgia  gatiously 
offered  to  be  the  host  of  this  important 
event, which will get together experts from 
international organizations and countries 
far beyond the region of Central Asia and 
Caucasus.  

learned 

Biosafety Association for Central Asia and Caucasus (BACAC) logo.

Funded bythe European UnionWith the support ofSouth East and Eastern EuropeEmbracing Diversity

Ms Mari Lursmanashvili
Head of the Regional 
Secretariat

Mr Marko Milivojevic
Deputy Head of the  
Regional Secretariat, NFP 
of the Republic of Serbia

Mr Sorin Popa
Programme Manager, 
European Commission

Mr Jumber Mamasakhlisi
OSA Key Expert

 Ms Marian de Bruijn
Programme Officer, 
UNICRI

Mr Talgat Toleubayev
Regional Coordinator  
UNICRI

Ms Cristina Cotovan
Team Assistant 
UNICRI

Ms Migena Kuburja 
NFP of the Republic of 
Albania 

Mr George Kocharian
NFP of the Republic of 
Armenia

Mr Jeyhun Isgandarli
NFP of the Republic of 
Azerbaijan

Ms Amira Arifovic-Harms
NFP of Bosnia &  
Herzegovina

Ms Diana Tsutskiridze 
NFP of Georgia

Mr Victor Palii      
NFP of the Republic of 
Moldova

Mr Marko Nikčević 
NFP of the Republic of 
Montenegro

Ms Svetlana Geleva
NFP of the Republic of 
North Macedonia

Mr Vadym Ivko
NFP of Ukraine

Ms Maite Manzanera 
Project 74 Team Leader
MediPIET

Mr Hendrik Visser 
Projects 53 & 67 Team 
Leader ISTC SCJS

CONTACT:
 South East and Eastern Europe CBRN Regional Secretariat (UNICRI) 
– talgat.toleubayev@un.org for UNICRI

Ms Vanessa Lagal 
Project 75  
Coordination Project 
Manager MediLabSecure

Contact European Commission
– Sorin.POPA@ec.europa.eu

Ms Serena Battaglia 
Project 75  
Coordination Team 
Leader MediLabSecure

Funded by
the European Union

South East and Eastern Europe

With the support of

DOI:10.2760/67591         ISBN: 978-92-76-27011-9

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