EU4MD: Making the link between drug-related problems and security and health threats in the European Union and neighbourhood countries

The EU drugs agency in Lisbon, as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening cooperation and sharing expertise, has developed the EU4Monitoring Drugs (EU4MD) project. Funded by the European Union, the project is running from 2019 until the mid 2022 and involves countries in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) area. It supports national and regional readiness to identify and respond to drug-related security and health threats. Whilst fostering regional cooperation and cooperation between the ENP and the EU, the EU4MD project aims to:

• help beneficiary countries be better prepared to respond to existing and future drug-related threats through capacity-building and partnerships;
• facilitate the identification, understanding and reporting of new and emerging drug-related threats and the analysis of their implications for security and health;
• support a strategic analysis of developments in the drug market and how these impact on security and health.

Networking and partnership are central to EU4MD. The project deploys a participatory approach to capacity-building (‘learning by doing’) and activities focus on developing practical and scientific knowledge, along with the skills of professionals and organisations.

On the supply side, EU4MD aims to support a better understanding of drug markets; capacity development for forensic analysis; assessment of the environmental impact of drug production; identification of ‘hot spots’; mapping of production and trafficking dynamics; technological innovations; threat assessment and responses to emerging issues.

On the demand side, work is focused on identifying trends in prevalence and patterns of drug use; drug-related harms; supporting treatment, harm-reduction and prevention activities; dissemination of innovative monitoring approaches; development of gender-appropriate responses and assessment and promotion of services for vulnerable populations.

Proven tools and methods developed by the EMCDDA are put to use in order to improve drug monitoring and support the introduction of evidence-based practices to better respond to the health and social problems resulting from drug use and the drug market.

The beneficiaries of the project are Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestine (*), Tunisia and Ukraine. The involvement of other countries bordering the region is also possible. Participation in the project activities is be on a case-by-case basis, within the context of EU4MD’s overall objectives.

The total project budget is EUR 3 million.

Countries

Map showing partner countries of the EU4MD project

• Algeria
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus (suspended)
• Georgia
• Israel
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Moldova
• Morocco
• Palestine*
• Tunisia
• Ukraine

The involvement of other countries bordering the region is also possible. Participation in the project activities is on a case-by-case basis, within the context of EU4MD’s overall objectives.

^{(*) This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.}