The preparing country Finland stores the EU’s emergency equipment stocks | News
The so-called rescEU project includes personal protective equipment, radiation measuring devices, medicines and antibodies for more than 240 million euros.
The EU Commission will finance a rescue and healthcare equipment warehouse located in Finland for the use of EU countries dealing with radiation and nuclear emergencies, the Finnish government announced on Tuesday.
The new chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear defense stockpile (CBRN) will be distributed in Finland.
Effort, recorded rescEUis estimated to cost around 242 million euros, and the warehouse contains protective equipment, radiation measuring devices and medicines.
According to the Finnish government, the project is fully financed by the EU.
The gears are intended to protect both first responders and civilians.
In national emergencies of EU countries, Finland is expected to be able to send material to the disaster areas within 12 hours. The first deliveries are due to be available in 2024, the ministry said.
Finland “an important player”
“The warehouses to be established in Finland will improve the European Union’s strategic readiness and readiness to respond to various threats, especially in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. In the changed security environment, the EU’s joint readiness is more important than ever. ,” Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen said in a statement.
“Through this project, Finland will become an important player in increasing European security. At the same time, the project will strengthen our national preparedness,” the interior minister continued.
The government also stated that the health and social sector will also play an important role, as many of the drugs and antidotes needed in a CBRN situation are rare and only needed in unusual circumstances.
Although the supplies are intended for EU-wide use, they also improve Finland’s national preparedness. Finland already has a well-functioning mandatory medicine storage system, with which we have secured the availability of medicines better than other EU countries, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Taneli Puumalainenchief physician of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Radiation equipment
The material will also include radiation measuring devices for use in possible accidents and public events.
The Radiation Protection Center (Stuk) assists the Finnish Service Safety Agency in the acquisition and maintenance of such equipment, according to Stuk’s director. Karim Peltonen.
“We are buying equipment that can be used both in major radiation accidents and, for example, in security arrangements for large public events. Individual countries do not have sufficient measurement capacity and expert resources to react to major radiation accidents. and this project is a welcome addition to Europe’s preparation for radiation accidents,” Peltonen said in the press release.
In the meantime, Huoltovarmuuskeskus (Nesa) is responsible for the acquisition, storage, maintenance and recycling of personal protective equipment, measuring equipment and support equipment.
“NESA brings significant experience in procurement, storage and logistics arrangements to the project. The future work offers a unique opportunity to promote preparedness, contingency planning and shared warehouses. It also strengthens cooperation with the European Commission, other member states and the Finnish consortium.”, Nesa’s CEO, Janne Känkänensaid.