STCU P100 Strengthens Frontline Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in Southeast and Eastern European Region: Successful Completion of P100 National Train the Trainer Course and Tabletop Exercise in Armenia, Tsaghkadzor
22/2506 Apr 2026 - 10 Apr 2026
April 14, 2026 – Kiev, Ukraine
On April 06 - 10, 2026, the P100 Strengthening Front Line Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in South East and Eastern European Region project, funded by the European Union and dedicated to strengthening frontline biosafety and biosecurity measures in the South East and Eastern European region, successfully concluded its National Train the Trainer Course and Tabletop Exercise in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. Held at the Eighty Eight Hotel, these events marked an essential step forward in bolstering national preparedness and coordination against biosafety and biosecurity threats.
Event Overview and Key Achievements
Train the Trainer (TTT) Course: Over four intensive days (April 06–09), participants gained expert-level knowledge and practical skills essential for training frontline and supportive personnel in Armenia. This course fostered the development of qualified national trainers capable of creating country-specific training modules and sustaining biosafety initiatives.
The event focused on strengthening biosafety and biosecurity measures at the national level in Armenia and brought together 30 experts from key national institutions, who received training, including representatives from the following:
• the Customs authorities / State Revenue Committee
• the Border Guard
• the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• the Ministry of Health
• the Food Safety Inspection Body
• the Health and Labour Inspection Body
Highlights included:
• Comprehensive sessions on biosafety risk assessment, regulatory frameworks, detection of biological hazards, decontamination and waste management, border and customs operations during biological incidents, and integrated response coordination.
• Hands-on practice in delivering interactive adult learning training, biosafety and biosecurity measures, and managing group discussions.
• Insightful presentations on the roles of primary and supportive personnel, emphasizing the collaborative efforts needed for effective border management.
Tabletop Exercise (TTX): Concluding the event on April 9 - 10, this exercise provided a platform for participants to engage in realistic scenarios, enhancing joint action and interoperability. Facilitated by Eugeniu Paladi, the exercise offered critical insights into operational readiness and pinpointed areas for procedural improvements.
Impact and Reflections
These activities in Armenia underscored the importance of unified, interagency strategies and demonstrated the country’s strong commitment to advancing biosafety and biosecurity standards at the national level. Participants showed a clear improvement in their understanding of crisis response procedures and their ability to coordinate effectively across institutions, reflecting tangible progress in strengthening Armenia’s operational readiness and resilience.
Building on these achievements, the P100 initiative will continue to support Armenia in consolidating these gains through sustained capacity-building efforts, enhanced interagency coordination, and the development of practical and durable biosafety frameworks. Future activities will also aim to strengthen cross-border cooperation and preparedness, particularly in coordination with neighbouring countries.
The P100 project remains committed to reinforcing biosafety and biosecurity capacities in Armenia while contributing to broader regional stability and security across the South East and Eastern European region.
STCU, together with the European Union, extends its sincere appreciation to all Armenian participants, facilitators, and partner institutions whose active engagement and professionalism were instrumental to the success of these events. Their contribution reflects a shared commitment to strengthening national preparedness and fostering effective international cooperation to mitigate biological risks.
EU, together with the STCU, reaffirms their commitment to supporting partner countries across the region in implementing sustainable frontline biosafety and biosecurity measures.