EU Civil Protection Responding to CBRN Incidents and Attacks

See also two related EPRS Studies:

The Mechanisms of Prevention and Detection of CBRN Illegal Material Transfers Across Borders and Within the EU, April 2018

This in-depth analysis, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the Special Committee on Terrorism of the European Parliament (TERR), examined the challenges pertaining to CBRN illicit trafficking that the European Union faces. Taking into account the new October 2017 CBRN Action Plan as well as existing mechanisms and solutions, it focused on means to prevent and detect the introduction into and movement within the Union territory.

Member States’ Preparedness for CBRN Threats, April 2018

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the Special Committee on Terrorism, outlined the threats posed by CBRN weapons, examined how well Europe is prepared for these threats and assessed where preparedness and response could be improved.

It suggested that to date, terrorist attacks in Europe have largely utilised conventional weapons where medical staff are able to respond using conventional medicine and medical practices. However, threats from the use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) materials for terrorism remained high and were evolving. The future threats were likely to come from the use of chemical and biological weapons.
The threat posed by terrorist attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) agents or materials is existential for both the EU as a whole and its individual Member States. Therefore the importance of creating, maintaining and effectively employing pre-emptive, preventive, timely responsive countering means is of vital for the protection of EU citizens and the maintenance of peace and security.

This in-depth analysis, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the Special Committee on Terrorism of the European Parliament (TERR), aimed to examine the efficacy of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) in the event of CBRN terrorist attacks. Although the UCPM is presented as the main emergency management instrument of the EU, it was mainly a post-incident handling tool; hence its preparedness for CBRN terrorist attacks was underdeveloped and required an immediate improvement. Thus by understanding these shortfalls can Europe collectively be prepared against the threat of CBRN attacks.

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, April 2018: The Mechanisms of Prevention and Detection of CBRN Illegal Material Transfers Across Borders and Within the EU http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/604963/IPOL_STU(2018)604963_EN.pdf

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: In-Depth Analysis, April 2018: EU Civil Protection Responding to CBRN Incidents and Attacks http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2018/604964/IPOL_IDA(2018)604964_EN.pdf

European Commission: Migration and Home Affairs: What we do > Policies > Crisis & Terrorism > Securing dangerous material https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/crisis-and-terrorism/securing-dangerous-material

European Commission: European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations: What we do: Civil protection https://ec.europa.eu/echo/what/civil-protection_en

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, April 2018: Member States’ Preparedness for CBRN Threats http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/604960/IPOL_STU(2018)604960_EN.pdf

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