Funded by the European Union
The first workshop for the preparation of National Action Plan to mitigate Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) risks for Viet Nam took place on 7-8 May 2015. The two-day workshop, which was part of the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative, was opened by representatives from: the Viet Nam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST); the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); and, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).
The workshop was the first in a series of national workshops of which the overall purpose is to put the national vision for risk mitigation into a national CBRN action plan and to identify priorities for building capacity. The action plan will be designed to ensure that future efforts are incorporated into one coherent approach, thus strengthening national capacities for prevention, detection, preparedness and response to CBRN threats.
The first workshop for the National Action Plan included an overview and discussion of the risk scenarios in each of the areas dealt with - chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear - in addition to a presentation of a Needs Assessment Questionnaire, a key part of the Centres of Excellence methodology. National subject matter experts from Viet Nam worked with their international counterparts to consider the best means of incorporating the identified needs and priorities into the respective National Action Plans.
The EU CBRN CoE Risk Mitigation Initiative enhances CBRN policies and capabilities by creating a network of regional initiatives to promote and support the development and implementation of national CBRN policies. It aims at strengthening regional security by increasing local ownership, local expertise and long-term sustainability. This includes sharing good practices and capabilities, developing guidelines as well as identifying, collecting, analysing and deploying resources to respond to the needs identified by partner countries. The initiative also facilitates the identification and implementation of projects and ensures that capacity building is part of a coordinated and sustainable approach.
The EU CBRN CoE Initiative is funded by the European Commission and implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). The European External Action Service is also involved in the follow-up of the initiative. The initiative is developed with the technical support of relevant international and regional organisations, the EU Member States and other stakeholders, through coherent and effective cooperation at the national, regional and international level. The initiative involves 50 countries in 8 regions of the world.
For more information:
- CBRN Centres of Excellence website: http://www.cbrn-coe.eu/
- European Commission, Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace website (see section about "Stable Situations"):http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/node/7350