For more than 16 years, the European Union’s Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative has stood as a model of international cooperation and resilience. Bringing together 63 partner countries, this flagship programme has not only fostered collaboration but also delivered tangible results in strengthening national and regional capabilities to prevent, detect, and respond to CBRN threats.
CBRN National Action Plan: A Strategic Foundation
At the heart of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative lies the development of CBRN National Action Plans (NAPs) — strategic documents crafted by each country’s CBRN National Team. These plans identify priority actions aimed at enhancing national capabilities for prevention, preparedness, and response to CBRN threats. Serving as blueprints for national security and resilience, CBRN NAPs go beyond project funding: the EU CBRN CoE Initiative provides guidance throughout the complex development process, ensuring efforts are both targeted and sustainable.
Ukraine’s Active Role
Ukraine joined the EU CBRN CoE Initiative in 2010 and has since become one of the most active members. Demonstrating strong commitment, Ukraine has participated in numerous national and regional projects aimed at bolstering its preparedness and response capabilities.
In 2020 and 2021, Ukraine’s CBRN National Team hosted two meetings to discuss the development of its CBRN National Action Plan, scheduled to begin in 2022. However, Russia’s war of aggression forced a postponement. Despite this setback, Ukraine remains determined to meet the CBRN risk mitigation requirements. Recently, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued an official resolution instructing the relevant national authorities to initiate the development of the country’s overarching CBRN National Action Plan.
Building the Framework
Following the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to initiate the development of the CBRN NAP, within the framework of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative, the Regional Secretariat of South Eastern and Eastern Europe (SEEE) organized the first national workshop dedicated to the development of the CBRN National Action Plan from 5 to 7 May 2026 in Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
The workshop was funded by the European Union and brought together experts from the European Commission, the On-Site Technical Assistance (OSA) team, the UNICRI regional coordinator, and 29 national representatives from key Ukrainian institutions. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Border Guard Service, State Agency on Exclusion Zone Management, State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, State Emergency Service, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Guard, National Police, Security Service, Ministry of Health, the Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada) and the National Defence and Security Council, among others.
Using a robust methodology developed by the European Commission, national stakeholders engaged in substantive discussions on gaps in national legislation, inter-agency coordination, and overall preparedness to respond to CBRN threats. This collaborative work carried out during the workshop identified critical national needs in CBRN risk mitigation and defined key strategic actions for the development of Ukraine’s CBRN National Action Plan. The national team also outlined the next steps toward the finalization and approval of the Plan.
Importantly, the workshop fostered dynamic dialogue among national stakeholders and international partners, aligning national priorities with international assistance mechanisms and ensuring that external support is effectively tailored to Ukraine’s specific needs.
Looking Ahead
Once finalized, Ukraine’s CBRN National Action Plan will serve as a strategic roadmap to strengthen national preparedness against a wide range of evolving CBRN threats, including natural disasters, food contamination, industrial accidents and terrorism. It will embody a unified, inter-agency approach to CBRN risk assessment and crisis management — an essential step toward enhancing national resilience and contributing to regional and international security.
The CBRN National Action Plan workshop was funded by the European Union and organized under the On-Site Technical Assistance (OSA) component of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative and facilitated by subject matter experts from the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).
To know more: EU Global Threats Programme – EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative
