Press Release: European Commission establishes Group of scientific experts on the fight against biological and chemical terrorism

The first meeting of the Group of scientific experts on the fight against biological and chemical terrorism took place in Brussels on 12 december 2001. This initiative, which was supported by the Research Council on 30 October 2001, forms part of the Declaration of the Ghent European Council and the Commission communication on civil protection that will be presented to the Laeken European Council. The Group of experts will first make a joint assessment of knowledge and capacity regarding bio-defence and what additional research is needed, in particular through better co-ordination of research activities within the Member States and at Community level. The members of the Group are from the ministries of research and defence of the Member States and from the European Commission, which is also represented. A second meeting of the Group is scheduled for February 2002 and a first progress report should be presented to the next Research Council on 11 March 2002.