Lisbon, 17 September 2024
Reviewing the progress of the EUDA’s technical international cooperation projects with partners in the Western Balkans and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) area will be the focus of a consultative meeting hosted by the agency in Porto from 18–19 September 2024.
The joint Project Advisory Committee will bring together 22 representatives from 14 beneficiaries of the two projects — the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance 8 (IPA8) and EU4Monitoring Drugs II (EU4MD II) (1). Also attending will be representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe and EU Action Against Drugs and Organised Crime (EU-ACT 2).
The participants will discuss steps taken to consolidate national drug information systems as well as the benefits and challenges of piloting new data-collection tools and boosting drug-related competences. The meeting will also offer the chance to review emerging drug market trends in both regions and deliberate and coordinate the main activities and outputs for the coming years.
On 19 September, the EUDA international cooperation partners from the participating countries will take part in onsite visits organised in cooperation with the Portuguese national focal point (ICAD). On the itinerary will be a harm reduction and temporary housing centre and the Porto office of the Polícia de segurança publica (public security police).
The EUDA, inaugurated in July 2024 and replacing the EMCDDA, has a stronger mandate and role in the area of international cooperation (2).
Notes
(1) IPA8 beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. IPA8: January 2023 – December 2026.
EU4MD II partners: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestine*, Tunisia and Ukraine. *This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue. EU4MD II: January 2023 to December 2027.
(2) Regulation (EU) 2023/1322 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2023 on the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006. See Article 20.
Source – EUDA