{"id":11097,"date":"2026-06-16T17:42:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T14:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/?p=11097"},"modified":"2026-06-16T17:42:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T14:42:00","slug":"konstantinos-margaritis-in-manifesto-the-eu-protects-citizens-from-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/?p=11097","title":{"rendered":"Konstantinos Margaritis in *Manifesto*: The EU Protects Citizens from Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Commission presented its new <b>strategy and action plan EU on drugs<\/b> aimed at combating drug trafficking, as well as updated <b>rules for monitoring and control of drug precursors<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Drug trafficking is a global criminal activity and <b>a serious threat both to the well-being of Europeans and to the security of Europe as a whole<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Illegal drugs, such as <b>cocaine and synthetic drugs<\/b>, continue to fuel violence, corruption, and the exploitation of the legitimate economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><b>Drug traffickers <\/b>have developed new methods, follow constantly shifting trafficking routes, and operate worldwide and increasingly online. <\/p>\n<p>At the same time, drug abuse poses a serious threat to public health, as new substances further increase the risks of poisoning and overdose. Children and young people are particularly affected. <\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, <b>drug production<\/b> causes significant damage to the environment, due in part to toxic waste.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This evolving situation <b>requires a stronger, coordinated response<\/b> across the entire EU.<\/p>\n<p>The <b>EU Drugs Strategy<\/b> takes a multidimensional, society-wide approach that focuses on <b>5 key areas<\/b>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Strengthening preparedness and response<\/b> to drug-related threats by improving data collection, monitoring, early warning, and rapid response measures at the EU and national levels. The <b>European Union Drug Agency<\/b> <b>(EUDA)<\/b>, with its new, strengthened mandate, will play a key role in supporting Member States by identifying new psychoactive substances, issuing rapid alerts, and assessing the risks posed by highly potent synthetic opioids.<\/li>\n<li><b>Protection<\/b> of <b>public health<\/b>, by strengthening prevention, treatment, and reintegration measures, including within the framework of the initiative \u201cHealthier Together.\u201d The EUDA will support member states with practical guidance and awareness-raising activities.<\/li>\n<li><b>Strengthening security<\/b>, with <b>stricter rules against organized crime<\/b> and <b>an evaluation of the current framework decision on drug trafficking<\/b> by 2026. Key actions include strengthening public-private cooperation to improve the <b>detection of drugs smuggled via postal andparcel delivery services<\/b> in the EU, as well as the new <b>strategy<\/b> of the <b>EU on ports<\/b> aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of our ports and supply chains against drug trafficking.<\/li>\n<li><b>Measures to prevent the harmful consequences of drug use<\/b>, with a focus on protecting young people from recruitment into organized crime (e.g., through a new EU toolkit and a new EU action plan to protect children from crime), as well as reducing the harm caused to society, local communities, and the environment, including through EUDA support for harm reduction interventions and crime prevention measures.<\/li>\n<li><b>Closer<\/b> <b>partnerships<\/b> with third countries to strengthen and expand international alliances and enhance operational cooperation, technical assistance, and capacity building. Global cooperation is essential to combat trafficking networks that operate internationally and rapidly adapt their routes and methods. The Commission and the Member States will also step up cooperation with civil society and the private sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <b>EU Action Plan on Combating Drug Trafficking<\/b> complements the EU Drugs Strategy, with 19 key operational actions in six priority areas aimed at:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Adapting to the evolving routes and methods used by criminal networks<\/b>, among other things through Frontex and Europol, which will step up their support to help Member States <b>detect drug trafficking activities at the external borders<\/b>, as well as to combat the <b>misuse of high-speed vessels. <\/b>In addition, the operations of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center\u2014Narcotics (MAOC-N) will be expanded, with the aim of disrupting maritime drug trafficking.<\/li>\n<li><b>Preventing crime and reducing drug-related violence<\/b>, particularly among young people, e.g., through an EU-level platform connecting experts from across Europe to combat online recruitment.<\/li>\n<li><b>Strengthening cooperation among law enforcement, judicial, and customs authorities<\/b>, with the aim of improving information sharing and joint analysis. <b>Europol<\/b> will assist member states in detecting and investigating online drug trafficking, by monitoring drug markets, analyzing data, and flagging suspicious activities.<\/li>\n<li><b>Addressing the challenge of synthetic drugs and drug precursors:\u00a0the EUDA<\/b> will provide operational support to Member States through a new EU-wide substance database, enabling Member States to better identify emerging substances, as well as through new guidelines and training for law enforcement agencies on how to identify and dismantle illicit synthetic drug production facilities.<\/li>\n<li><b>Promoting research, development, and innovation<\/b>, including through a new <b>security research and innovation center<\/b> to be launched in 2026, with a focus on accelerating the transition from research to implementation.<\/li>\n<li><b>Strengthening international cooperation<\/b> and further strengthening partnerships with key countries, through <b>joint investigations<\/b> by law enforcement authorities of Member States and partner countries, and other actions, to strengthen the resilience of ports against drug traffickers and disrupt drug trafficking routes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The European Commission<\/b> has also proposed new rules to make <b>the monitoring and control of drug precursors<\/b> and <b>new-generation precursors<\/b>, using digital technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Drug precursors are often diverted and trafficked by criminals for the <b>production of synthetic drugs<\/b> and new psychoactive substances, which poses a serious threat to public safety.<\/p>\n<p>The proposal includes new measures, such as <b>real-time reporting of significant seizures of drug precursors<\/b>, an expedited procedure for faster testing of substances, as well as a ban on new-generation precursors, significantly limiting the availability of these precursors for the illicit manufacture of drugs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the initiative will simplify and <b>digitize the procedures<\/b> for legitimate trade, ensuring that <b>industries can grow<\/b> without excessive regulatory burdens.<\/p>\n<p><b>The EU\u2019s drugs strategy sets out a roadmap<\/b> that safeguards <b>public health, the well-being and safety of citizens<\/b> and strengthens the EU\u2019s preparedness and response to current and future drug-related challenges.\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Commission presented the EU&#8217;s new drug strategy and action plan aimed at combating drug trafficking, 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