The Ministry of Health, represented by the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), organized on December 16, 2022, the first national cross-sectoral meeting in Spain under the umbrella of JA TERROR. Its main objectives were to let all the potential stakeholders know about the JA TERROR, looking for their engagement, and to improve the collaboration between the Security, Civil Protection and Health sectors of the area of preparedness and response to chemical and biological terror attacks.

This meeting was opened by the General Director of Public Health, and was attended by around 35 high-level representatives from 12 institutions belonging to 10 ministries: Health; Interior; Justice; Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; Science and Innovation; Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge; Consumption; Defence; and the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government.

JA TERROR and its aim was presented: to strengthen the preparation and response to biological and/or chemical risks of intentional release, with emphasis on cross-sectoral coordination, mainly between health, safety and civil protection. The 8 work packages (WP’s) were presented, as well as the main activities developed by work package 6, led by Spain through the CCAES, focused on improving cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination.

Representatives of the three sectors made presentations on their cross-sectoral coordination of intentional threat management and engaged in fruitful discussions about strengths and challenges in this area in Spain.

Preliminary results for Spain of the survey aiming to map, the cross-sectoral collaboration as part of the WP 6 activities were presented. This generated a good and enriching debate about roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders involved in this area Participants expressed their desire to participate in future meetings.