Enhancing Radiological Data Exchange and Strengthening EU-GCC Cooperation in Nuclear Safety

Riyadh, 7 April 2025

The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) mark a significant milestone in their collaboration on radiological safety with the conclusion of the EXTRA-EURDEP project. This initiative, officially titled "Customisation of the European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP) for the Gulf Cooperation Council Region," represents a key achievement in enhancing radiological data exchange and emergency preparedness across the GCC region. This project has been co-funded by the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) and coordinated by European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA).

With the increasing need for effective radiological monitoring, the GCC and EU have worked closely to adapt EURDEP to the specific needs of GCC Member States. The outcome is the GCC-RDEP information exchange platform, a tailored, tool customised for the GCC countries and GCC Emergency Management Centre designed to provide real-time access to radiological environmental data. This system ensures GCC countries can monitor radiation levels both under normal conditions and during radiological emergencies, reinforcing their capacity to respond effectively to potential incidents.

The success of the EXTRA-EURDEP project is a powerful example of the strong partnership between the EU and the GCC, further solidifying their commitment to regional security and environmental safety. The project, implemented by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), not only delivered a robust technical solution but also provided fundamental training for GCC Emergency Management Centre staff and key stakeholders across the region.

This initiative builds upon previous EU-GCC collaborations, including the successful deployment of the JRODOS decision support tool in 2024, which aids emergency decision-making during nuclear incidents. The combination of GCC-RDEP and JRODOS in the future will further enhance the reliability of the decision-making in case of a nuclear emergency.  

The EU and GCC reaffirm their shared commitment to expanding cooperation in nuclear safety and radioactivity environmental monitoring. This project is a cornerstone of the broader EU-GCC Joint Action Programme, which aims to deepen engagement in security, crisis management, and sustainable development.

For further information, please contact:

- Mrs. Sarah A. Alqenaei, GCC Project Manager; salqenaei@gccsg.org

- Mr. Juan Carlos de la Rosa Blul, European Commission Scientific Officer; juan-carlos.de-la-rosa-blul@ec.europa.eu

- Mr. X. Pinsolle, European Commission Project Manager; xavier.pinsolle@ec.europa.eu