TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EU CBRN COE INITIATIVE: HAVE ITS OBJECTIVES BEEN ACHIEVED?

This PhD thesis is dedicated to the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative (EU CBRN CoE) and the progress toward its implementation. Since 2010, the European Commission and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) have successfully partnered in the implementation of the EU CBRN CoE.

The study examines the main goals, targets, development, and achievements of the CBRN CoE Initiative. The thesis illustrates how the CoE Initiative works and how it promotes comprehensive cross-border cooperation among CoE countries at the national, regional, and international levels. This work scrutinises the strengths and weaknesses of the CoE Initiative.

The main goal of this PhD thesis is to provide exhaustive answers to research questions, including whether all the objectives of the CBRN Initiative have been achieved subsequent to the 10th anniversary of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative and what kind of impact the Initiative has had at the global level in the CBRN realm.

The study used qualitative research methods, inter alia survey, interviews, case studies, and archival research that provided extra information and usefully visualise the results. The findings made apparent the obstacles and gaps within the CoE Initiative at the various stages of its implementation.

This doctoral study seeks to contribute to policy-oriented discussion on how the EU CoE Initiative could be improved and better address CBRN risk mitigation policy from a practical point of view. Accordingly, in order to improve the implementation of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative and the approaches it takes towards meeting the needs and addressing the risks of the CoE partner countries concerned, the study suggests important recommendations to improve the effectiveness of CBRN CoE Initiative at the national, regional, and international levels, and thereby makes valuable contributions to practice, policy, and research within the CBRN domain.