PRESS RELEASE. EU CBRN CoE P100 Project Hosts Study Visit to Rome to Strengthen Biosafety and Biosecurity in the South East and Eastern Europe Region.
12/2517 Apr 2025 - 21 Apr 2025
March 25, 2025, Kyiv, Ukraine
Over 40 frontline experts from eight (8) South East and Eastern European countries participated in a high-level study visit to Rome, Italy, from the 17th to 21st of March 2025, as part of the European Union’s P100 Project: Strengthening of Frontline Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in the South East and Eastern European (SEEE) Region.
The visit, organized under the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative and implemented by the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU), brought together national professionals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine to learn from Italy’s integrated, cross-sectoral approach to CBRN risk management. The experts from the P100 Partner Countries included experts from the Patrol Police, Customs Service, Public Health institutions, including the National Center for Disease Control, as well as Veterinary and Food Safety Services.
Hosted by the University of Rome Tor Vergata and its International Master Courses in Protection against CBRNe Events, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the program combined expert-led lectures, institutional visits, and a live tabletop simulation.
This study visit offered a unique opportunity for participants to engage directly with Italy’s best practices in biosafety and biosecurity. Through hands-on experiences and exchanges with Italian counterparts, the P100 partner countries strengthened their readiness to detect and respond to biological threats at borders and customs checkpoints.
Key Highlights of the Study Visit Included:
• Site visits to leading institutions such as the Italian Army’s 7th CBRN Regiment, the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, the Italian Firefighters’ Training Centre in Montelibretti, and the Civitavecchia Harbor Customs Operations Agency.
• In-depth lectures on biosafety and biosecurity, disease surveillance, legal frameworks, and CBRN emergency response from the professors of the University of Rome Tor Vergata
• A tabletop exercise simulating a biological emergency scenario, promoting interagency coordination and decision-making.
The visit fostered meaningful exchanges between participants and Italian experts, reinforcing regional cooperation and building national capacities in alignment with EU and international standards. The tabletop exercise facilitated a practical, scenario-based approach, allowing participants to apply their training in a controlled environment. This interactive exercise strengthened the preparedness and response mechanisms of experts from P100 PCs by improving coordination among national agencies responsible for frontline biosafety and biosecurity enforcement.
This study visit reflects the P100 Project’s commitment to strengthening frontline biosafety and biosecurity capacities across the SEEE region in alignment with EU and international standards. By fostering operational knowledge exchange and peer collaboration, the initiative supports the long-term sustainability of national capabilities at border crossing points and frontline institutions. The P100 project remains committed to strengthening biosafety and biosecurity capacities and promoting peace and security across the South East and Eastern European region.
STCU, together with the EU, extends its appreciation to all participants, presenters, and organizers who contributed to the success of these events. Their engagement and expertise were vital in achieving the shared mission of a safer, more secure region. This initiative underscores EU's and STCU’s dedication to strengthening BS&S measures in the SEEE region and fostering international collaboration to mitigate biological threats effectively.