North Macedonia Hosted Project 88 Ministerial Briefing and Regional BioEx Exercise in Skopje

From project results to national ownership

On 23 March 2026, under EU CBRN CoE Project 088, the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine, STCU, visited the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia and delivered an end of project ministerial briefing for the Minister of Health, Mr Azir Aliu. The meeting briefed the Ministry of Health on the results achieved within Project 88 and explored how these results could be sustained and expanded after the project closed.

The briefing brought together senior national stakeholders, including the Minister of Health and Ms Elena Kuzmanovska Biondik, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia. Discussions focused on practical steps to embed Project 88 outcomes into national systems and identified opportunities for continued engagement with the EU CBRN CoE Initiative.

Practical pathways to sustain capabilities

Participants reviewed concrete proposals to maintain readiness and keep skills current. These included planning future multi agency exercises with other national authorities, integrating the Project 88 CBRN emergency medicine curriculum into continuing professional development, and embedding the curriculum into the Ministry of Health lifelong learning management system. The meeting also covered the creation of a Ministry of Health database of trained personnel, the conversion of the written curriculum into multimedia online training, and the expansion of training and exercises to wider target audiences. This included setting minimum criteria for CBRN trained staff in medical institutions, particularly in tourist areas.

Further ideas included exploring funding for a regional CBRN emergency medicine centre of excellence in Skopje, examining improvements to equipment storage, and considering follow on work related to public health at mass gatherings. This covered mass casualty treatment, risk assessment, and crisis communication.

Regional BioEx exercise in Skopje

On 24 March 2026, the regional biological exercise, BioEx, officially began in Skopje. Opening remarks were delivered by senior representatives, including Deputy Minister of Health Mr Jovica Androvski, Ms Elena Kuzmanovska Biondik, and Mr Ben Nupnau, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia. Delegates from eight countries of the South East and Eastern Europe region took part in three days of activities.

The exercise was developed by the Project 88 team in cooperation with the Emergency Unit team at the Health Centre in Skopje, with support from Skopje medical university volunteers and the Red Cross. This cooperation increased realism and strengthened coordination across services.

This action is funded by the European Union and is part of the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative.

Scenario and objectives

From 25 to 26 March, participants worked through a joint plan of action to manage a biological emergency event. The scenario centred on Flight SN358 from Kinshasa where, prior to landing, multiple passengers became severely ill, with symptoms consistent with a haemorrhagic fever. Air traffic control informed the emergency coordination centre, the aircraft remained away from the terminal, and responders managed 52 passengers and four crew, including symptomatic cases and simulated fatalities.

The exercise objectives focused on operational decisions in the first hours of a biological incident. These included protecting emergency medical personnel, conducting effective triage on board and off the plane, applying infection prevention and control, delivering life saving medical care, and determining whether notification to the World Health Organization was required under the International Health Regulations.

Learn more about Project 88

EU CBRN CoE Project 88, “Strengthening of CBRN Medical Preparedness and Response Capabilities in South East and Eastern European countries,” supported partner countries in improving medical preparedness, response coordination, and sustainable training capacity for CBRN incidents through national level training and institutional cooperation.

Download the project factsheet