Timetable: July 2019 – June 2022

Overall goal: to ensure that IPA II beneficiaries are able to participate effectively in the activities of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the Reitox network upon accession.

This goal is divided into two specific objectives.

• Specific objective 1: To support the approximation to and adoption of the EU acquis in the IPA II beneficiaries in the area of Rule of Law and in particular in the drug information field.  This specific objective will build on the previous activities undertaken by the EMCDDA with regard to the development of a national drug information system aligned with the EU drugs information; namely the establishment of an operational National Drug Observatory (national focal point) and a national early warning system (NEWS), in each of the beneficiary countries.
• Specific objective 2: To increase the evidence on cross-border drug-related health and security threats in the Western Balkan region, and to support the responses to these threats. The position of Western Balkans on the main heroin trafficking route to the EU and the production and trafficking of cannabis represent a substantial burden in the region as well as a serious public health and security threat for the EU. This specific objective will extend the available information beyond the core EMCDDA reporting, building on existing national and regional structures and using alternative data sources, while promoting the integrated, evidence-based and balanced EU approach on drugs. The knowledge and findings of activities conducted for this objective will build on the experience of previous IPA projects conducted by the EMCDDA, informing and extending the participating counties’ and EMCDDA’s understanding of drug markets in the region and the related threats. This will contribute to the formulation of both strategic and operational priorities and activities.

• IPA 6 activities (July 2017–June 2019)
• IPA 5 activities (July 2015–June 2017)
• IPA 4 activities (January 2012–November 2014)
• IPA 3 activities (December 2009–November 2011)