The European Commission has announced that it has launched an operation to strengthen the EU’s protection against chemical, nuclear and biological incidents amid concerns about the conflict in Ukraine, according to Reuters.
The EU will increase its stockpile of protective equipment, disinfectants, drugs and vaccines that could be useful in the event of chemical, nuclear or biological accidents, the EU said.
“We are taking concrete steps to increase Europe’s preparedness for possible threats,” said EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.
The EU creates two separate reserves: one for protective equipment, drugs and vaccines against so-called chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats; and another for decontamination materials provided for the decontamination of people, infrastructure, buildings or vehicles exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents.
The EU has already begun using existing stockpiles to help Ukrainians potentially affected by nuclear radiation following fighting near nuclear power plants following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The EC said that almost 3 million iodide tablets were delivered to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism with the help of France and Spain.