CELESTE II - Case studies, Exercises, LEarning, Surveys and Training across Europe II
Research project
CELESTE II, like its predecessor CELESTE, is a framework agreement following the European parliament decision 1082/2013 on serious cross-border threats to health.
The goal of the project is to strengthen the EU security framework for preparedness and health. The project will create an integrated, coordinated and comprehensive approach for preparedness, risk assessment and crisis response and is coordinated by Public Health England.
European Commission Decision 1082/2013 took on the proven provisions of Decision 2119/1998 for communicable diseases, with the inclusion of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections. It also covers bio-toxins, chemical, environmental and unknown threats. The CELESTE II project consortium is responsible for the practical measures necessary to ensure a coordinated and consistent level of preparedness against cross-border health threats among EU-members states. CELESTE, the initial project, ran from January 2013 through December 2016. CELESTE II started January 2017 and runs through December 2019.
Execution CELESTE II is divided into four lots; Organization of exercises, Organization of events, Organization of trainings, and Production of dissemination materials. The European CBRNE Center, participates in the first two lots. The key tasks of Lot 1 – Organization of exercises, is to: organize and execute table-top exercises where participants interact to understand and learn roles, responsibilities, structures, procedures, etc., performs tests of communication and crisis management where time is a key factor, perform tests of components or full scale responses, including emergency decision making and communication, and to perform case studies with unfolding scenarios (real or fictitious) to understand potential challenges and identify best practices.
The key tasks of Lot 2 – Organization of events, is to prepare, plan and facilitate events in such a way that participating representatives from e.g. member states, NGO’s, and media are able to identify ways to achieve consistent and professional risk and crisis communication with the public as well as the stakeholders, thus supporting the work of the Health Security Committee Communicators’ Network.
Results The successful completion of the four separate lots will result in improved and comprehensive risk assessment and preparedness among EU member states.
