North Macedonia Advances Review and Update of Its CBRN National Action Plan

Developing and regularly updating a CBRN National Action Plan is essential for countries to identify their priority actions and strengthen national CBRN risk mitigation. As threats evolve, so must national strategies. Continuous review ensures that countries can assess progress, address emerging gaps, and keep their CBRN safety and security frameworks aligned with international standards and national needs. 

The Republic of North Macedonia reaffirmed its position as one of the most active participants among the 63 partner countries of the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative. North Macedonia initially developed its own National Action Plan (NAP) for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and CBRN risk mitigation, which was adopted in 2019 and remained in effect until 31 December 2021. In anticipation of this expiration, the CBRN National Team — working in close coordination with the national CBRN Focal Point and the Regional Secretariat for South East and Eastern Europe (SEEE) — launched a comprehensive review and planning process in 2023. This included a series of national team consultations and CBRN Needs Assessment workshops aimed at aligning the new plan with evolving threats and strategic priorities. 

The updated CBRN NAP is designed to complement the implementation of North Macedonia’s National Strategy on Weapons of Mass Destruction and Multilateral Environmental Agreements, while also aligning with EU methodology and standards. This harmonization effort supports the country’s broader aspiration for EU membership and demonstrates its commitment to enhancing national and regional CBRN resilience. 

The new NAP continues to build upon the framework initially established using the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) methodology, which provide partner countries with tools to categorise and document national CBRN priorities and technical support in completing needs assessments during the 2019–2021 planning cycle. 

The drafting of the new CBRN National Action Plan gained momentum following the 2023 assessments. With the support of national experts, the SEEE Regional Secretariat, the On-Site Technical Assistance Expert, and the CBRN National Team organised a national review meeting in Skopje on 10–11 July 2025. This meeting brought together 26 government officials and key national stakeholders from a wide array of institutions, including: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Crisis Management Center, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Local Self-Government, the National Co-ordinational Center for Border Management, the Customs Administration, Directorate for Radiation Safety, the Customs Administration, Food and Veterinary Agency, the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, the Agency for National Security, the Institute of Public Health, the Intelligence Agency, and the State Environmental Inspectorate. 

During the workshop, CBRN national experts reached consensus on several priority actions to enhance the country’s CBRN prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. Emphasis was also placed on strengthening the national security culture within the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear sectors. 

Participants agreed on a set of follow-up actions aimed at refining the draft NAP ahead of the next coordination meeting. This finalisation meeting is scheduled for late August 2025 in Skopje and will focus on confirming outstanding details, including the duration of the plan (three or five years), and defining further concrete actions with respective responsible agencies to address the country’s specific CBRN risk landscape. 

Once finalised, the CBRN NAP will be submitted for formal government approval. The identified needs, gaps, and priorities in the areas of WMD / CBRN Safety and Security will also serve as key input for engagement with international donors during the upcoming Regional Donor Coordination Meeting, set to take place in Georgia in spring 2026. 

During the review meeting, members of the National Team were briefed on the EU CBRN CoE pilot project titled "Strengthening the CBRN Investigation, Prosecution, and Adjudication (IPA) Capabilities in the Western Balkans." Several team members expressed strong interest in actively participating in this initiative, which is fully funded by the European Union and scheduled to launch in a regional format in October 2025.  

To this end, the On-Site Technical Assistance Expert provided an overview of the ongoing process of updating the SEEE Regional Action Plan (RAP) through the comprehensive questionnaire disseminated in the SEEE region.  North Macedonia’s National CBRN Team reviewed the questionnaire with special emphasis on the new regional priorities in conjunction with the updated National CBRN Action Plan, having identified the full compatibility between national and regional actions. The workshop was concluded with the mid-term review of regional needs and priorities, ensuring that both national and regional strategies reflect the dynamic and evolving CBRN risk environment across the region. 

A commitment to a safer and more secure future through CBRN risk mitigation 

As a key EU CBRN CoE Partner Countries, North Macedonia continues to play an active role in strengthening CBRN risk mitigation in the South East and Eastern Europe region. 

The country’s efforts are anchored in its CBRN National Coordination Body, established in 2012 as an inter-agency platform. Over the past 13 years, this body has led the development of the national CBRN Strategy and National Action Plan. 

North Macedonia is currently engaged in seven EU CBRN CoE projects. These projects support a wide range of goals, including strengthening frontline biosafety and biosecurity, addressing biological risks linked to environmental and climate change, and enhancing national CBRN medical preparedness and response capacities. 

For more information on how the EU CBRN CoE is supporting CBRN risk mitigation in South East and Eastern Europe, visit the SEEE Regional Secretariat page.