Europe’s civilian and military sectors must forge a resilient, unified defense against CBRN threats, writes Riho Terras MEP
In today’s uncertain geopolitical climate, Europe cannot afford complacency when it comes to preparing for conflict. With adversaries exploiting every opportunity to destabilize regions and with emerging risks from naturally occurring or intentional events, this must include a high readiness to react to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
In our current volatile global environment, health threats - whether arising from pandemics, synthetic biology advancements, or chemical attacks - can trigger widespread instability. The repercussions of such events extend far beyond public health, potentially disrupting social order and undermining economic resilience. Only by considering health security as part of our defense posture can Europe prepare to mitigate these multifaceted challenges.
Cooperation between scientists, security experts, and regulatory bodies is vital to anticipate and mitigate the risks of engineered biological agents
As the new European Commission sets out to shape the EU’s Preparedness Union, biological preparedness and CBRN defense must be included. Recent initiatives under the EU4Health and HERA frameworks illustrate that robust funding mechanisms are critical to build rapid-response capabilities—from advanced medical countermeasures to strategic stockpiling of essential supplies. The allocation of funds under EU4Health to strengthen health security—such as the €12.2 million investment announced to enhance detection and response capabilities against CBRN hazards—demonstrates that Europe is starting to act, but more is needed to meet future challenges.
Europe’s preparedness must also bridge the gap between civilian and military sectors. Joint exercises, shared intelligence, and coordinated stockpiling (including antivirals and vaccines) are essential to ensure that in the event of a crisis, resources are deployed swiftly and efficiently. The European Parliament’s Defence and Security Committee can play a key role in ensuring these joint efforts enhance Europe’s preparedness, and the establishment of a more agile and effective response framework that safeguards public safety.
The growing risks posed by synthetic biology further complicate the security landscape. As technological advances blur the line between innovation and potential misuse, Europe must adopt an interdisciplinary approach. Cooperation between scientists, security experts, and regulatory bodies is vital to anticipate and mitigate the risks of engineered biological agents. Enhanced funding for research and development drive innovations that safeguard against both natural and engineered bio-threats
Finally, as highlighted by the Joint Action on TERROR reports, critical gaps in early detection, cross-border surveillance, and rapid response remain. Strengthening these areas is not optional—it is imperative for addressing both intentional and naturally occurring threats. By confronting these challenges head-on, Europe can forge a resilient, unified defense against CBRN hazards.
The time to act is now. Europe must invest in its CBRN defense capabilities to secure its future, protect its citizens, and maintain its strategic autonomy. The cost of inaction is far too high.
As new governments convene and prioritize geopolitical issues, protecting the EU from biological threats – both intentional and naturally occurring– must remain a top tier issue, writes Joe Papa, President and CEO at Emergent BioSolutions
Whether natural or manmade, biological threats enjoy a freedom of movement unimaginable in years past. The world is more interconnected than ever before, and diseases and problems can spread quickly. In an era of increasing global connectivity and geopolitical conflicts, the challenge we face in protecting our communities from biological threats is complex and rapidly shifting.
Incoming and returning officials in Europe must now prepare for normal seasonal infectious disease, diseases endemic in active conflict zones, diseases that are spreading further due to climate change, and a myriad of known and unknown biological threats, including those that may be intentionally deployed. While the challenges facing authorities are complex, the solutions are relatively straightforward, at least in principle.
The policies and actions that drive global pandemic preparedness, like early detection, identification, and rapid response, are equally applicable to intentional or localized biological threats. Early identification requires collaborative cross-border disease surveillance and robust health screening and monitoring.
To rapidly respond to the pathogen itself, public health authorities must also be in close partnership with the private sector to produce and stockpile the medical countermeasures necessary to fight disease.
Stockpiles, prepared and maintained in advance of an outbreak, must address known, likely contagions. Public-private partnerships must also have a plan in place to swiftly research, develop, produce, and distribute vaccines and medicines to address unanticipated or novel diseases.
Public-private partnerships must also have a plan in place to swiftly research, develop, produce, and distribute vaccines and medicines to address unanticipated or novel diseases
While the solutions may be straightforward, executing them can be complicated. Medical countermeasures are complex to manufacture and test, and often required in relatively low, unpredictable, volumes. Regulatory standards across geographies can be seemingly duplicative and burdensome.
Enabling some flexibilities in testing, manufacturing, and labeling for these products, that are exclusively purchased by government entities in the name of emergency preparedness, allows for sustainable supply and licensure pursuits. I see these barriers as an opportunity for streamlining requirements between our two sides of the Atlantic and easing the sharing of potentially lifesaving countermeasures between trusted allies.
As new governments convene and prioritize geopolitical issues, protecting the EU from biological threats – both intentional and naturally occurring– must remain a top tier issue. Medical countermeasures and their rapid deployment are an essential part of this strategy.
Joe Papa is president and CEO of Emergent BioSolutions, a global life sciences company that delivers solutions to complex and urgent health threats.
About Emergent BioSolutions
For over 25 years, Emergent has worked hand in hand with governments and agencies to anticipate needs, address current challenges, and prepare for the threats we collectively face. As Europe and the rest of the world navigate a more complex health threat landscape, companies like Emergent can help strengthen preparedness and protect national, regional, and global security.