Final conference of the SOS – Alert Solutions project

April 2017, Horný Smokovec, Slovakia

On 03 – 04 April 2017, the Grandhotel Bellevue in the High Tatras hosted the final conference of the project “SOS – Alert Solutions – Cross-border cooperation project for enhanced detection and interception of illicit CBRN materials on the Slovakian-Ukrainian border“. The aim of this conference was to summarise the progress and results of the whole project and to provide relevant information about the project to representatives of various partner organisations not directly involved in the project. The international participation in the conference was provided by representatives of security forces of France, Iceland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Romania. The opening speeches of the conference were delivered by Her Excellency Inga Magistad, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Slovakia, and 1st Vice-President of the Police Force Col. JUDr. Jaroslav Málik.

Joint Slovak-Ukrainian exercise

March 2017, Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia

On 27 - 28 March 2017, a joint Slovak-Ukrainian exercise took place at the Institute of Public Administration in Spišská Nová Ves to examine the response of the security forces to a possible CBRN incident in the immediate vicinity of the Slovak-Ukrainian border. The exercise was attended by members of the Police Force, the Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic, and members of the State Border Guard of Ukraine. The exercise supervisors were police officers from the Department for detection of hazardous materials and environmental crime of the Criminal Police Office of the Police Force Presidium, and their partners from the Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic, the Control Chemical Laboratory of Civil Protection in Jasov, and experts on CBRN materials from the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic. The exercise was also attended by observers: representatives of the Donor Project Partner – Norwegian Radiation Protection Agency and representatives of other Slovak institutions, such as the Public Health Authority of the SR, which is the regulatory body for radiation protection of the population. The exercise fully met the expected goals and confirmed the improving capabilities of both countries to respond quickly and effectively to specific incidents.

Specialised professional training for representatives of regional and district prosecutions

February 2017, Nový Smokovec, Slovakia

In February 2017, a specialised professional training was held for representatives of regional and district prosecutor’s offices from the Slovakian-Ukrainian border region and heads of competent bodies of the Police Force, Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic, State Border Guard of Ukraine, National Police, and Ukrainian secret service. This was the last educational activity within the Project, and it focused primarily on the legislative framework for combating the threats of CBRN materials, with special emphasis on cross-border aspects. The aim of education, inter alia, was to establish contacts and relations between Slovak and Ukrainian security forces and to introduce the system of operation of security forces at state borders, focusing on CBRN safety and security.

Workshop Report – SOS Alert Solution in Norway

6–10 February 2017, Oslo, Norway

On 6–10 February 2017, representatives of all project partners met in the capital of Norway – Oslo. In this final stage of the project the workshop participants dealt mainly with incorporating last comments and suggestions to project outcomes/outputs – “CBRN materials threat assessment at the Slovakian-Ukrainian border” and “Joint Operational Concept”. The project partners will definitely approve and complete the Joint Operational Concept during the final project workshop to be held in Bratislava from 6 to 10 March 2017. During the joint workshop in the Kingdom of Norway representatives of project partners also informed each other about the subsequent project activities, especially about the organisation of a joint Slovakia-Ukraine exercise, and about the upcoming final project conference.

Training in Vyšné Nemecké

January – February 2017, Vyšné Nemecké, Slovakia

During January and February 2017 the Training Centre of the Financial Directorate of the SR in Vyšné Nemecké hosted 5 two-day courses of extended training, during which 100 members of the Police Force and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine were trained. The training focused on gaining an overview of legislation relating to CBRN materials, and improving the skills of the Police Force members and the State Border Guard service of Ukraine members in the detection of CBRN materials. The emphasis was on the conditions of the Slovakian-Ukrainian border. During the extended training the participants were presented, among other things, the detection possibilities of the Financial Directorate of the SR and of the Control Chemical Laboratory under the Ministry of Interior.

Workshop Report – SOS Alert Solution in Ukraine

16 – 20 January 2017, Lviv, Ukraine

On 16 – 20 January 2017, two joint workshops were held in Lviv, Ukraine, attended by representatives of all project partners. The workshop mainly focused on joint discussion and proposals to amend the contents of one of the backbone project documents – “CBRN materials threat assessment at the Slovakian-Ukrainian border”. Representatives of the Police Force Presidium, as well as representatives of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine supplemented specific information relating to the detection of CBRN materials at the Slovakian-Ukrainian border, as well as information on the actual functioning of the state border protection. In the course of the workshop, project partners also focused on creating the basic concept of another project output – “Joint Operational Concept” – that will serve the security forces of the Slovak Republic and Ukraine as an effective instrument for cooperation in border protection.

Study visit to France

24–28 October 2016, France

On 24–28 October 2016, representatives of project partners – namely the Ministry of Interior of the SR, and State Border Guard Service of Ukraine – participated in the third study visit within the implementation of project activities. This study visit took place in France and its participants were presented the operation of specialised bodies of French state administration that are involved in combating the threats of CBRN materials and the fight against terrorism. In particular, the study visit covered all entities that are administratively and operationally grouped under the special inter-ministerial technical intervention unit (DCI IT) for the purposes of combating the threats of CBRN materials and the fight against terrorism.
 
Thus, participants in the study visit were provided with a broad overview of the organisation, structure, activities and technical capacities of different bodies – pyrotechnic unit, Military Civil Protection unit, Central Laboratories of Police Prefecture, Nuclear Energy Commissariat, General Armament Directorate, and Specialised Unit of the French Gendarmerie for Combating Environmental Crime (OCLAESP). The study visit helped establish contacts with several French government institutions and agencies involved combating the threats of CBRN materials, based on which the project partners assessed this study visit as extremely beneficial.

Vocational training of police officers, members of the Slovak Police Force and Financial Administration

11th October 2016, Slovakia

As part of the key project activities implementation a vocational training of police officers, members of the Slovak Police Force and Financial Administration began on 11 October 2016 in the eastern Slovakia region. The objective of the training is to provide the competent units with basic information on CBRN materials, the flow of information and the correct procedure in their detection and interception on the Slovakia-Ukraine border and in the border region.
 
The aim of the vocational training is to strengthen forensic capacities to combat illegal trafficking in CBRN substances, especially at Slovakia-Ukraine border crossings. By the end of 2016, 10 two-day networking training sessions will be held to train in terms of expertise more than 200 members of the Slovak Police Force and Financial Administration.

Study visit to the Kingdom of Norway

26–30 September 2016, Norway

On 26–30 September 2016, representatives of all project partners participated in a study visit to the Kingdom of Norway. The aim of the visit was to gain knowledge on the functioning of the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority and on the activities of the security forces operating near the Norwegian–Russian border where the study visit took place. Project partners were presented the technical and professional capabilities and skills of the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority detached office that is mainly responsible for monitoring and evaluation roles in the field of radiation control.
 
Exchange of information and best practices regarding border protection was carried out through official appointments with the Police Director in the city of Kirkenes, as well as with Storskog border crossing station commander, and through presentations of these departments´ activities. This study visit helped to strengthen the existing contact between the representatives of all project partners and also to establish new contacts with the personnel of the above-mentioned security forces of Norway.

Study visit to Iceland

5–9th September 2016, Reykjavík, Island

Representatives of the Police Force of the Slovak Republic, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (DPSU) and Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) participated in a study visit to Iceland, in accordance with the schedule of project activities. The purpose of the study visit was to establish new contacts and relationships, and acquire new knowledge and experience from the Icelandic authorities. During the study visit, its participants were informed on the activities and practical experience with CBRN protection, as presented by the Icelandic Police National Commissariat, Public Health Institute of Iceland, Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority, the Icelandic Police Pyrotechnic Unit, Icelandic Centre for Epidemiology, and other Icelandic authorities that are competent in dealing with CBRN materials and handling CBRN safety and security. Slovak and Ukrainian representatives concluded regarding the visit that it was a significant contribution to improving their existing operations, particularly in the field of efficient use of manpower and resources of governments in addressing specific tasks.

Workshop Report – SOS Alert Solution, Workshop 3

26–29th July 2016, Kiev, Ukraine

The third workshop within the project was attended by representatives of all partner institutions. During the workshop proceedings the project partners discussed especially the particularities that should be included in the Joint Operational Concept, based on the experience of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and based on the experience of the Department for detection of hazardous materials and environmental crime of the Presidium of the Police Force of the SR Criminal Police Section. The discussions were primarily aimed at a clear delimitation and definition of competences between individual state authorities dealing with CBRN materials in the border region, both at the Slovak and Ukrainian side of the border. Following joint discussions and brainstorming, the partners created a content framework of the Joint Concept. This framework will be the base for the drafting of the Concept as such. Workshop participants also discussed the aspects related to the implementation of the project, and planned further project activities.

Report on the SOS Alert Solution workshop, Workshop 2

7–15th June 2016, Østerås, Norway

The second workshop took place over three days in accordance with the agenda whose main objective was to prepare a final draft of the questionnaire and document for joint threat evaluation. All workshop activities aimed to discuss and finalise the above documents that were prepared by an external Slovak consultant. Comments and suggestions by the partners were collected and discussed at the meeting. The documents were revised in detail. Attendees added their comments, asked for clarification, and suggested improvements or modifications to the text and wording. Further activities were planned.

Report on the SOS Alert Solution workshop, Workshop 1

12–15th April 2016, Bratislava, Slovakia

The workshop in Bratislava was attended by all project partners, apart from STCU. The agenda focused on preparing the basic framework for the evaluation study, while dividing all tasks related to the preparation of tools for the study. Discussion and brainstorming were followed by definition of objectives and opportunities necessary for threat evaluation. The partners also discussed the project-activity-related financial and budgetary issues, as well as the project agenda activity until the year end – these were approved by the partners.