From 27 to 31 January 2025, the National Institute of Justice of Moldova hosted the third series of capacity building and training courses as part of the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative’s pilot project "Strengthening CBRN Investigation, Prosecution, and Adjudication Capabilities in Moldova." This pilot project is funded by the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments Service and implemented by UNICRI.
The five-day training course entitled “Building a Case for Prosecution” brought together relevant national experts from Moldova to enhance their capabilities in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating CBRN crimes. Prosecutors, investigators, judges, police and customs officers, criminal justice and law enforcement authorities, and other relevant government agencies involved in the CBRN incident response took part in this training course.
The training covered a broad range of essential topics for bringing the criminal case from the crime scene contaminated with CBRN materials to the courtroom for eventual adjudication. The training journey began with an introduction to CBRN materials, and the challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting associated crimes. Experts discussed the complexities of CBRN incidents, with a focus on investigation and prosecution strategies, the role of prosecutors in various legal systems, and the importance of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in cross-border investigations.
Participants explored practical aspects of CBRN crime scene investigation, including establishing crime scene zones, evidence collection and preservation, and forensic capabilities. A significant portion of the training focused on nuclear forensics, highlighting how it can support CBRN investigations, and the importance of maintaining a proper chain of custody for evidence.
In addition, the training provided real-world case studies from the UK, USA, Iraq, Germany, and Slovakia, allowing participants to understand the challenges and best practices in prosecuting and adjudicating CBRN crimes. Sessions on intelligence sharing, undercover operations, and the protection of witnesses added a critical dimension to the discussions, emphasizing the need for effective coordination and physical security during investigations.
The concluding days of the training were dedicated to building national legislative capabilities through relevant national CBRN strategies and action plans. This allowed participants to explore how to integrate the knowledge gained into their national frameworks, ensuring that beneficiaries are better equipped to manage CBRN threats and improve national coordination and international cooperation.
Overall, this training program marked a significant step forward in enhancing Moldova’s capacity to investigate and prosecute CBRN crimes, improve international cooperation, and ensure a robust response to potential future challenges.
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 comprehensive security governance in Partner Countries of the EU following a voluntary and demand-driven approach. The EU provides 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 exchange of lessons learned.
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 coordinated and effective national, regional and international cooperation. Other relevant international and regional organizations 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.
