The CBRNE stakeholders meeting is organised by MSB (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) twice a year for all actors in Sweden, dealing with CBRNE (hazardous materials) issues. This was the second appearance of the CBSS Secretariat’s Civil Security team at the meeting. In August 2018, Project Officer Nina Jernberg presented EUSBSR PA Secure work and the STAC-CBRNE project to the participants.
This event provides an opportunity for exchange of information and discussion. It also serves as a link between different collaboration forums to facilitate cooperation across subject areas. This time, 92 experts gathered on 5 September 2018 in Stockholm, among them representatives from government, researchers, military, police, customs, transport agencies, hospitals, rescue services, etc.
The meeting started with a presentation of the new Swedish CBRNE strategy – one of two comprehensive strategies from the Baltic Sea Region (Finland being the second), which soon will be available in English on MSB’s website. This was followed by a presentation on the protection of critical infrastructure, a briefing about the work of ISP (inspection for strategic products), presentations from CBRNE-related projects and a section on crisis communication.
Sweden is on the forefront of a holistic and cross-sectoral approach to CBRNE issues and Swedish actors have been active participants in the CBSS-led STAC-CBRNE project (Strengthening the Transnational Capacity of the Management of CBRNE agents related Emergencies), funded by the Swedish Institute. During the meeting the CBSS Secretariat’s Project Officer Andriy Martynenko informed the participants about the “Treff” concept: “The CBSS Secretariat Civil Security team together with an engaged group of CBRNE experts from 7 Baltic Sea Region countries are working on a concept of a large-scale region-wide CBRNE stakeholder forum – “Treff” – to establish continuity in the knowledge exchange between professionals in different sectors and levels working with CBRNE issues in the region. The forum will ensure better utilization of research and project results, as well as improve coordination and communication between, and within, different national authorities, agencies, and sectors, working with CBRNE throughout the whole emergency management cycle. The concept for the “Treff” was endorsed by the 16th Meeting of the Directors General for Civil Protection in BSR who support the establishment of such a forum”