Workshop on sustainability of rescEU stockpiles with hosting Member States
DG ECHO workshop on 7 December, 2023, focused on the sustainability of rescEU stockpiles.
As highlighted during the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, where the scarcity of critical items like personal protective equipment became concerning, the availability of critical medical and CBRN items in case of emergencies via the rescEU stockpiles has become crucial. In light of the significant procurement efforts secured so far, DG ECHO organised a workshop on 7 December, 2023, focusing on the sustainability of rescEU stockpiles in collaboration with grant holders from the hosting Member States.
Since its inception, rescEU stockpiling has been a priority and has matured significantly. Presently, ten Member States host rescEU medical stockpiles, while four Member States are developing stockpiles for CBRN events. Additionally, seven more stockpiles are being jointly developed with the Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).
This strategic approach aims for the EU to be better prepared for future major public health emergencies post-COVID-19. Now that the establishment phase is complete, the focus shifts to sustainability. The workshop's focus was on sustainable stockpile management, aiming to identify main challenges faced by hosting Member States in managing rescEU stockpiles and how the Commission can offer support.
The workshop successfully brought together 24 participants from 11 Member States[1], addressing the challenge of maintaining a high level of disaster preparedness while ensuring the stockpile's sustainability and durability to minimise unnecessary waste. Key topics of discussion included rotation strategies, donations, extension of shelf-life, waste management and recycling, as well as warehouse management and deployments.
The workshop facilitated fruitful exchanges, sharing of good practices, and identification of key challenges in sustaining and maintaining rescEU stockpiles. This critical topic united technicians to navigate the complexities involved. Expect regular collaborative efforts and discussions in the future to address this ongoing challenge.
[1] DE DK, FR, FI, EL, HU, HR, SE, RO, PL, & SI
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Thematic series
Prevention and preparedness activities