Within the framework of the European Union’s (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative, UNICRI conducted a five-day training course, entitled “Building a Case for the Prosecution of Chemical and Biological crimes”. The training course was conducted from 1 to 5 December 2025, at the Military Academy in Skopje, North Macedonia. This arrangement was made possible thanks to the host country’s contribution of training facilities as part of co-funding of the activity.
A multi-disciplinary training for regional cooperation
The event was officially opened by the host country’s authorities, the funding institutions, and the organizers, including H.E. Elizabeta Chupovska Ristova, State Secretary, Ministry of Defense, North Macedonia; Mr. Ben Nupnau, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section, European Union (EU) Delegation in North Macedonia; and Mr. Talgat Toleubayev, Regional Coordinator at UNICRI. The event was officially closed by H.E. Elena Kuzmanovska, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia.
The training brought together 39 participants, including prosecutors, investigators, judges, forensic experts, law enforcement officials and policymakers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Through expert-led sessions and scenario-based exercises, the programme strengthened regional cooperation by:
- fostering a shared understanding of CBRN-related threats and legal frameworks;
- promoting multi-agency coordination across law enforcement, prosecution and forensic services; and
- enabling practical exchanges between practitioners working on complex, cross-border cases.
Delivered by senior prosecutors, investigators, legal practitioners, CBRN forensic experts and training specialists, the course combined legal, operational and scientific perspectives to address real-world challenges.
From crime scene to courtroom: a comprehensive learning path
The five-day programme covered the full lifecycle of a CBRN criminal case, from incident response to adjudication. Participants:
- examined types and categories of CBRN incidents and crimes, including relevant national and international legal frameworks;
- explored strategic trade controls and dual-use considerations; and
- analysed real-world case studies from Iraq, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States, illustrating how offences can escalate from ordinary crimes to war crimes.
Operational modules focused on the practical challenges of investigation and prosecution and participants strengthened their understanding of mutual legal assistance (MLA), international legal cooperation, extraditions, and cross-border evidence development.
Hands-on sessions addressed CBRN crime scene management, including zoning, cordons, detection and identification of hazardous substances, and the fundamentals of nuclear forensics. Particular emphasis was placed on:
- evidence handling and chain of custody;
- integrity and admissibility of forensic material; and
- the requirements for building strong, evidence-based prosecutions.
Additional discussions examined command-and-control structures, communication and media management, undercover operations, witness protection, sentencing and appeals, using scenario-based learning to translate intelligence into prosecutable cases.
Joint expertise and sustainable capacity-building
The training marked the first joint course conducted with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on radiological crime scene management and nuclear forensics. This collaboration demonstrated the added value of integrating forensic science into criminal justice processes to ensure the proper handling and admissibility of evidence.
The initiative is grounded in two practical tools developed under the EU CBRN CoE framework:
- the flagship publications A Prosecutor’s Guide to Chemical and Biological Crimes (2022) and
- A Prosecutor’s Guide to Radiological and Nuclear Crimes (2023).
These guides provide practitioners with structured methodologies, legal considerations, and operational guidance essential for building effective CBRN cases, and served as key references throughout the training programme.
Building sustainable capacities and advancing EU integration
Overall, this training program represents a decisive leap forward in strengthening the Western Balkans’ regional capacity to investigate and prosecute CBRN crimes, fostering deeper international cooperation, and ensure a resilient response to future challenges.
The three beneficiary countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, participating in this regional pilot project view themselves as future members of the European Union. For them, this long-awaited initiative is more than training: it is a strategic investment that elevates their investigation, prosecution, and adjudication capabilities, aligning national practices with European standards and reinforcing their path toward EU integration.
About the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE)
The EU CBRN CoE initiative is a global Initiative funded and implemented by the European Union as part of its goal to promote peace, stability and conflict prevention. The aim of the Initiative is to mitigate risks and strengthen an all-hazards security governance in Partner Countries of the EU following a voluntary and demand-driven approach.
The EU CBRN CoE is led by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), in close coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS). The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides technical support to Partner Countries, while the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) ensures a coherent and effective national, regional and international cooperation. Other relevant International and/or Regional Organisations and experts also contribute to the Initiative.
The initiative brings together 63 countries that cooperate at regional and international level to strengthen CBRN risk mitigation and to promote a global culture of safety and security. The CoE network supports the mitigation of and preparedness against CBRN risks by fostering good governance in the domain, enhancing regional and international multi-agency cooperation, and facilitating the transfer of best practices, among others. The bottom-up and demand-oriented nature of the activities carried out within the network, ensure that the support provided is sustainably tailored to countries’ and regions’ needs. Together, the CoE network members advance towards the shared goal of making the world a safer place.
Details
- Publication date
- 8 December 2025
- Threat area
- CBRN Risk Mitigation