European Conference on Drug-Related Violence

Event date: 26 – 27 November 2024

Event location: Brussels

Organisers: EUDA – European Union Drug Agency

Event type: Conference

The European Union (EU) is at a critical juncture in addressing the escalating threat posed by drug-related violence. This violence manifests itself in various and increasingly complex forms, often fuelled by organised crime that operates in and exploits fragile social environments, affecting communities at multiple levels and perpetuating cycles of harm.

Recognising this, the EU Drugs Strategy 2021–2025 and the EU Roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, emphasise the need for strong and early preventative measures that tackle the root causes of organised crime. While a number of tools and strategies exist at EU level, the increasing complexity of violence within drug markets still presents significant challenges. These include multi-sector and multi-level coordination and the need for robust, timely and comparable data and indicators for designing effective responses and evidence-based policies.

In response to these challenges, the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA), in collaboration with the European Commission has organised the first European Conference on Drug-Related Violence. This invitation-only event will address the different aspects of drug-related violence, balancing both health and security concerns and promoting community safety and public health. It will bring together diverse voices from policy, practice, research and civil society, providing a cross-sectoral perspective of how drug-related violence affects people’s lives, businesses and economies, and requires a unified and coordinated EU approach in response. The conference will catalyse collaboration in this area by providing a platform for discussion and sharing best practices, forming a call for stakeholders to work together towards a safer and more secure Europe.

The conference seeks to achieve key objectives that will drive coordinated efforts across sectors, including:

Objectives

Establish a comprehensive understanding of the situation regarding drug-related violence across the EU;

Inform the development of a plan to expand the monitoring of drug-related violence in the EU;

Highlight initiatives already underway in the EU and promote innovation and research;

Foster multi-sector and multi-level collaboration among relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement, health and social services, local authorities and policymakers;

Consider how available information, methods, and analyses can be applied to support Europe’s preparedness for future threats in this area; and

Advance prevention responses and the development of protective environments and communities.

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