North Macedonia to Host EU Project 88 Biological Emergency Response Field Exercise
25/2517 Nov 2025 - 26 Mar 2026
Skopje, North Macedonia – 24–26 March 2026
The Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia, will conduct a large-scale Biological Emergency Response Field Exercise (BioEx 2026) aimed at strengthening national and regional preparedness for managing high-risk biological incidents across South East and Eastern European (SEEE) countries. The exercise will take place over three days in Skopje and will gather emergency medical responders, civil protection units, and public health professionals from across the SEEE region.
Strengthening regional response capacities
BioEx 2026 forms part of the EU CBRN CoE Project 88: “Strengthening of CBRN Medical Preparedness and Response Capabilities in South East and Eastern European Countries.”
The project, funded by the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument and implemented by STCU, seeks to enhance national capacities for medical preparedness and emergency response to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
The exercise follows earlier international chemical and radiological field exercises held in partner countries in 2025 and represents the culmination of the biological-preparedness training component of Project 88. Its objective is to consolidate the skills of trained Master Trainers and emergency responders and to validate procedures developed under the project’s training curriculum.
Exercise objectives
According to the official exercise specifications, BioEx 2026 will evaluate responders’ ability to:
• Correctly assess risks associated with a biological incident;
• Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE);
• Implement effective infection-prevention and control measures;
• Perform medical triage and life-saving interventions;
• Manage contaminated waste and coordinate safe patient transfer;
• Initiate contact tracing and evaluate the need for international notification under the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR);
• Coordinate with other on-scene emergency teams; and
• Communicate effectively with the public and the media.
Advancing national and regional resilience
By hosting BioEx 2026, North Macedonia continues to play a leading role within the regional CBRN network in advancing medical readiness and inter-agency cooperation. The exercise will help participating countries test cross-sectoral coordination among health, civil protection, and security agencies, reinforcing the region’s collective ability to respond to complex biological emergencies.
The outcomes of BioEx 2026 will contribute to the development of sustainable, nationally owned CBRN training programs and the refinement of emergency-response guidelines across the participating states.
Media contact:
EU CBRN CoE Project 88 Communications
Email: elena.taberko@stcu.int
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