EU raises level of preparedness for chemical and nuclear threats
The European Commission has announced the creation of strategic reserves for the European Union’s capacity to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats through the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
“We are taking concrete measures to improve Europe’s preparedness for potential threats. We are creating both a decontamination reserve and a new stockpile of equipment designed for chemical, biological or nuclear emergencies,” said Janez Lenarcic, European Commission member for crisis response.
“I am grateful to the member states of the European Union for these efforts. Our goal is to enable our citizens to respond quickly in the event of such an emergency,” the European commissioner added.
The European Commission said in a statement that the measures taken include a strategic reserve of 540.5 million euros (Civil Protection Mechanism Reserve) established in cooperation with the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.
This stockpile will consist of equipment, drugs, vaccines, and other treatments to treat patients exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear exposure, as well as a rescue unit decontamination reserve to support response teams.
“As an immediate first step, the European Union mobilized its medical reserve from the rescue unit to purchase potassium iodide tablets that can be used to protect people from the harmful effects of radiation. Almost 3 million of these tablets have already been delivered to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism with the help of France. and Spain,” according to a statement by the European Commission.
