Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe

🚨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 (𝟕–𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐠)!🚨

In a productive online session on 1 April 2026, a focussed working group defined the conference’s programme and its main themes—covering illicit drug production and supply chains, organised crime tactics, new drug trafficking trends, environmental and digital challenges and the importance of strong judicial and international co-operation.

🌐 Find out more on our website https://go.coe.int/uYmxW

This 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲, the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group) highlights the importance of balance between health and security in drug policy.

By fostering international co-operation and innovative approaches, we work towards comprehensive responses that support both individual well-being and community safety.

Learn more about our work on our website www.coe.int/pompidou

🛫 Kicking off preparations for the Seventh Expert Network Session on General Aviation (10–11 June 2026, Strasbourg)!

Representatives from the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group and Secretariat of the Benelux Union and EMPACT platform met online on 31 March 2026 to map out key topics and other arrangements that would be needed to hold the Council of Europe’s Seventh Expert Network Session on General Aviation. The aim of this network of experts is to boost international co-operation in combatting the misuse of general aviation by criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking.

Know more https://go.coe.int/Cc40s

𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐨𝐯𝐚 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲

National authorities, civil society, and international partners convened in Chisinau on 12 and 13 March for a workshop supported by the Council of Europe through the Pompidou Group Technical Assistance and Support project, to advance the 2026–2032 National Drugs and Addictions Strategy.

Participants discussed policy, shared good practices from across Europe, and focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and supply reduction.

Angela Paraschiv, State Secretary, Ministry of Health, highlighted:
“(…) 𝑤𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘, 𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑢𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.”

More https://go.coe.int/CSu6Z

🔗 Preparations are underway for the 38th Network Session of the Co-operation Group of Drug Control Services at Airports and Mail Centres, set for 14–15 October 2026 in Athens!

Experts from the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group), joined by the Permanent Correspondents of Austria and Mexico, held an online working session on 13 March to prepare for their 38th Network Session in Athens this October.

Topics included agenda fine-tuning, participant profiles, expert speaker identification, and operational mail centre training possibilities. This Session will also mark the engagement of the Southeast Airports Group into the broader European network, strengthening cross-border co-operation against drug trafficking via air and mail.

Learn more https://go.coe.int/pX2qW

Strengthening expertise in Drug Control: Focussed Working Group convenes to prepare the 38th Airports and Mail Centres Network Session in Athens Latest news about the Council of Europe Pompidou Group activities

The Council of Europe has established the Drafting Committee on Risks and Harms of Online and Digital Addictions (BIO-ALN), following approval by the Committee of Ministers at its 1554th meeting on 12 March 2026.

Operating under the authority of the Committee of Ministers and the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO), BIO-ALN will bring together 15 experts to draft a Recommendation addressing the risks of digital addiction, including online gaming and gambling. This initiative builds on key policy documents and expert findings, aiming to equip member States with effective strategies to protect health, human rights and social well-being in the digital era.

Know more https://go.coe.int/mX0Hi

New Drafting Committee established to develop a Council of Europe Recommendation on Risks and Harms of Online and Digital addictions Latest news about the Council of Europe Pompidou Group activities

🔵 Shaping the future of drug policy 🔵

Yesterday at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the Pompidou Group hosted a dynamic side event on “Balancing Human Rights Considerations in Public Health and Safety.”

We explored up-to-date practices and innovative approaches to balancing human rights, public health, and security.

Sincere thanks to the Pompidou Group Permanent Correspondents, participants and collaborators who contributed their expertise and commitment, helping to advance sustainable, people-centred solutions in drug policy.

https://go.coe.int/uljAm

Today in Vienna, Ambassador Gerhard DOUJAK, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Vienna, delivered a statement on behalf of the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group) at the 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). The Group called for stronger international co-operation and balanced, evidence-based drug policies rooted in human rights and public health.

The Pompidou Group remains committed to working with UNODC and international partners in advancing the global response to drugs and addiction.

Read the statement on our website https://go.coe.int/xlZ2a

🕓 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘!

Hybrid side event: “Balancing human rights considerations in public health and safety”

📍Vienna International Centre M7 / Online

This session will spotlight ongoing advances in human rights-focused drug policies, facilitate dialogue on new challenges, and look ahead to future priorities.

Join us at 𝟏𝟔:𝟑𝟎 𝐂𝐄𝐓! https://go.coe.int/uljAm

Tℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑎 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑡 16:00.

The Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions contributes to the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) Latest news about the Council of Europe Pompidou Group activities

🌍 The 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs is underway in Vienna!

The Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group) is proud to be taking an active role at this year’s CND session.

📣 Do not miss our dedicated side event: “Balancing human rights considerations in public health and safety” (10 March, 16:30–17:30 CET), accessible online, and explore other impactful side events that we are supporting together with our partners from across Europe.

Stay tuned for updates throughout the week! https://go.coe.int/VpZHw

𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐡𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝) 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟔𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐍 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐧 “𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲”

🗓️ 10 March 2026 | 🕓 16:30–17:30 (CET)
📍 Vienna International Center, Room M7 / Online

Organised by the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions in co-operation with UNODC, and member States such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, the EU and the WHO, this event will explore evidence-driven, human rights-based approaches to drug and addiction policies.

Join the event to hear from international experts on the latest policy tools and strategies to advance health and drugs and addictions policies while upholding human rights principles.

The event will be preceded by a welcome coffee and networking session at 16:00.

More information on Council of Europe’s participation to the CND session www.coe.int/pompidou

The Pompidou Group held the second Steering Committee meeting for the project “Strengthening the role of key actors in drug prevention” in Tbilisi.

Representatives from nine state institutions reviewed 2025 activities, approved the 2026 workplan, and discussed challenges such as gaps in services for minors affected by addiction and the need for evidence-based prevention approaches in education.

Read more https://go.coe.int/u38Su

Pompidou Group held second Steering Committee meeting for the Project “strengthening the role of key actors in drug prevention” in Tbilisi Latest news about the Council of Europe Pompidou Group activities