Representatives of the European Parliament are visiting the EMCDDA this week to discuss how the agency will adapt to its new mandate in 2024. New legislation published on 30 June grants the EMCDDA stronger powers to tackle current and future drug problems. The EMCDDA will become the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) on 2 July 2024, the day on which the new regulation enters into application.
The EP delegation will be composed of two members of the EP’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): Isabel Santos, rapporteur for the EUDA Regulation (PT, S&D) and shadow rapporteur Ramona Strugariu (RO, Renew Europe Group). The MEPs will be accompanied by a political adviser of the Renew Europe Group, Indra Mangule, and Gareth Goldsmith, Administrator at the LIBE Secretariat.
Professor Meni Malliori, representative of the EP on the EMCDDA Management Board, and the Head of the EP Office in Portugal, Pedro Valente da Silva, will also participate in the meeting.
An exchange of views with the EMCDDA Director and scientific staff will cover:
- preparing for the implementation of the EUDA regulation, including dialogue with civil society;
- preparing for the EUDA regulation: 'anticipate, alert, respond and learn';
- drug-related policy challenges in Europe and at international level (e.g. emerging and dangerous threats, such as fentanyl);
- perspectives for cooperation with the European Parliament.
Adria Cots Fernandez (International Drug Policy Consortium) will participate in the point on dialogue with civil society on behalf of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs (Working Group on International Drug Policy).
