On 23 - 26 October 2023 the Executive Secretary of the Agreement participated, on behalf of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in the World Congress on CBRNe Science & Consequence Management, held in Cavtat, Croatia, where he delivered an address.  In his statement the Executive Secretary outlined the Council of Europe’s continued commitment to the protection of environment as demonstrated by the outcomes of the Reykjavik Summit of the Heads of State and Government. 

In particular, he emphasised the necessity for a link between the work of scientists in their respective fields of competence and the policy makers. Such a gap between scientific research and policy makers remains a challenge, with detrimental consequences for disaster risk reduction policies and measures. The approach offered by EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement, that combines the two pillars of intergovernmental policy cooperation and scientific collaboration with the EUR-OPA Network, creates opportunities for sharing experience and networking between both pillars.