The European Commission is financing a Finland-based stockpile of rescue and health care equipment for use by EU countries dealing with radiation and nuclear-related emergencies, the Finnish government announced on Tuesday.
The new chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN) stockpile will be placed in decentralised locations in Finland.
The effort, dubbed rescEU, is expected to cost around 242 million euros, with the stockpile consisting of protective gear, radiation measuring instruments as well as medicines.
The effort will be entirely funded by the EU, according to the Finnish government.
The gear is meant to protect both first responders and civilians.
In national emergencies among EU states, Finland will be expected to be able to send materials to affected areas within 12 hours. The first quantities of supplies are scheduled to be available in 2024, the ministry said.
Finland 'important player'
"The stockpiles to be established in Finland will improve the European Union’s strategic preparedness and readiness to respond to different kinds of threats, especially in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. In the changed security environment, the EU’s joint preparedness is more important than ever," interior minister Krista Mikkonen said in a statement.
"With 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 said that the healthcare and social welfare sector will also play an important role in the effort, as many of the medicines and antidotes called for during CBRN situations are rare and only needed in unusual circumstances.
While the supplies are intended for EU-wide use, they also improve Finland’s national preparedness. Finland already has a well-functioning system for obligatory stockpiling of medicines that has enabled us to secure the availability of medicines better than other EU countries even during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Taneli Puumalainen, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health's chief physician.
Radiation gear
Radiation measuring equipment will also be included in the materials, for use in possible accidents and at public events.
The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (Stuk) is to assist the National Emergency Supply Agency in acquiring and maintaining such equipment, according to Stuk's director, Karim Peltonen.
"We are in the process of purchasing equipment that can be used in both major radiation accidents and in security arrangements for large public events, for example. Individual countries do not have sufficient measurement capacity and expert resources to respond to large-scale radiation accidents, and this project is a welcome addition to European preparedness for radiation incidents," Peltonen said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Supply Agency (Nesa) will be in charge of procuring, storing, maintaining and recycling of personal protective equipment, measurement gear and support equipment.
"NESA will bring significant experience of procurement, storage and logistics arrangements to the project. Future work will provide a unique opportunity to promote preparedness, contingency planning and common stockpiles. It will also intensify cooperation with the European Commission, other Member States and Finland’s consortium," Nesa's CEO, Janne Känkänen, said.
