Europe’s drug monitoring system will be showcased by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in Brussels this week at a seminar held in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) (1). Perspectives for technical cooperation between the drugs agency and the 16 ENP partner countries (2) will be explored at the event, with a particular focus on institution-building and boosting drug monitoring capacity. The kick-off meeting will conclude with a work plan for the period 2011–13.
Organised by the EMCDDA, in cooperation with the European Commission (3), the seminar is financed by the Commission’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) (4). The event will bring together for the first time policymakers from the ENP countries with representatives from the EMCDDA, the European Commission and international organisations working in the field. Presentations on the European monitoring system will be complemented by workshops on the drug monitoring experiences, needs and expectations of the ENP countries.
The European Neighbourhood Policy aims to forge closer ties with countries to the South and East of the European Union. Through this policy, the EU seeks to strengthen the prosperity, stability and security of all countries concerned.
In March 2007, the Council of the EU agreed on the gradual participation of ENP partner countries in the work of EU agencies to encourage regulatory and administrative reform and to promote convergence of the ENP partners’ policies with EU norms, standards and best practice.
In the coming three-year period, closer cooperation is expected between the European information network on drugs and drug addiction (Reitox) and ENP countries, with targeted support offered by the EMCDDA for establishing or strengthening national drug monitoring centres (5). Next week, the EMCDDA and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD–OAS) will launch a joint handbook on building such structures, which is designed as a practical guide relevant for all world regions.
Seminar: ‘The EU drug monitoring system, the EMCDDA and perspectives for cooperation with ENP countries’
14–15 October 2010 — BY INVITATION ONLY
Hotel Crowne Plaza, Rue de la Loi 107, Brussels 1040
Full programme available at https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/events/enp-conference
The results of the seminar will also be available on this page.