Brussels, 14/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - The first meeting of scientific experts on fighting chemical and biological terrorism was held in Brussels on Wednesday on the initiative of Commissioner Philippe Busquin and supported by the 30 October 2001 Council of Research Ministers in the framework of the Declaration of the Ghent European Council and the Commission's Communication on civil protection (presented to the Laeken European Council). The group of experts will jointly assess knowledge, capacity and additional requirements for bio-defence research, particularly through better coordination of research activities in the Member States and also at Community level. The group is made up of representatives from Member States' research and defence ministries, scientific experts and European Commission officials. The group is chaired by the European Commission. The group's second meeting will take place in February 2002 and it will present its first progress report to the next Research Council, scheduled for 11 March 2002.