UK G7 Global Partnership 2021 Presidency continues a truly multilateral approach and provides a venue for an effective multi-stakeholder, multi-discipline, inclusive cooperation to enhance chemical security worldwide.
During a recent on-line session of G7 Global Partnership https://www.gpwmd.com Chemical Security Working Group organized and led by UK Presidency, ICCSS presented its ongoing programs and activities to enhance national and regional chemical safety and security and civil protection.
ICCSS has presented preparations to Full Scale Field Exercise (FX) in Lviv, Ukraine, 27-29 September 2021, as a final event of ICCSS EU-CHEM-REACT 2, EU funded project. ICCSS statement prioritise the regional cooperation to mitigate CBRN threats in pandemic situations with use of Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). ICCSS has offered the GP community the COVID-19 Safety and Security Manual for conduct of CBRN related training and exercise in pandemic situations. A second presentation was devoted to the development of Middle East chemical safety and security program – Jordan as regional hub for chemical safety and security, a project funded by France.
Both projects demonstrate an innovative ICCSS approach to implement regional chemical safety and security and cybersecurity as a core process to enhance national and regional security. The regional approach allows the ICCSS to be flexible in its engagement and to promote chemical safety and security to be adjusted to different cultures, different perceptions of security, and the various priorities of nations in the region concerned. Within ICCSS implemented EU-CHEM-REACT program, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova are engaged in the development of modern civil protection and chemical threat reduction.
Within the ICCSS developed the Middle East Chemical Security Program, Jordan is being proposed as regional hub for chemical safety and security, as core element of the Middle East Chemical Security Program. The project on the development of the Joint CBRN Training Facility in Amman as a regional centre for chemical safety and security, the core project to implement the program composed of 5 start-up projects. including on Improvement of Jordan National Regulatory System on Chemical Safety and Security; Improving Jordan capacity to protect chemical and energy carrier critical infrastructure against terrorism and hybrid threats; Development of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Goes Chemical Safety and Security to enhance security throughout the chemical lifecycle;Development of national regulatory and training framework for cross-boundary movement of toxic chemicals.
ICCSS President thanked France for supporting the first project and invited GP partners to join the program and offer financial support and expertise for the other 4 project proposals.
The chemical security regional approach has been shared by GP Members. During the on-line session the US has presented its broad program activities to support Africa in chemical security.
France highlighted the importance of ICCSS efforts to enhance chemical security in the Middle East, including in Lebanon. France invited GP members to support financially ICCSS in the program implementation.