17/01/2023 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission announced on Tuesday 17 January that Finland has been awarded €242 million to develop the first-ever chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) strategic reserve under RescEU - the strategic equipment reserve of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. This new strategic reserve “will include critical medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and antidotes, medical devices and field response equipment to ensure better protection and response in the aftermath of CBRN events or in preparation for high-risk situations”, the Commission highlights. The funding will also be used to train personnel to “strengthen CBRN expertise in Europe and ensure that capabilities and response teams are interoperable and can be deployed anywhere across the continent”. (AN)