Cooperation with Peru was enhanced this month following the signing of a Working Arrangement between the EMCDDA and the Peruvian National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA). The agreement was signed via an exchange of letters between EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel and the Executive President of DEVIDA Carlos Figueroa.
The new arrangement is an expression of willingness and commitment from both sides to work together for mutual benefit. It allows for cooperation in collecting, processing, summarising and analysing information on the drug situation at national level. Among others, the agreement illustrates the importance of having a sound national drug information system, headed by a national drug observatory, as the basis for effective drug policy and action. It will also contribute to the EU’s preparedness to face drug-related threats, an issue of particular relevance for the agency’s upcoming new mandate.
The two parties have agreed to foster collaboration in the following areas:
- Exchange on methodology of data-collection systems and on data itself (demand and demand reduction, supply and supply reduction, legal aspects and policy models);
- Exchange of expertise, and of data, on new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as on the establishment of a national early warning system on drugs;
- Exchange of experiences on health and social responses to drug problems – above all prevention of communicable diseases, harm reduction, social integration and integrated care for people who use drugs.
The new arrangement was endorsed by the EMCDDA Management Board in December 2022, following consultation with the European Commission. It takes place within the agency’s mandate for cooperation with third (non-EU) countries and will be implemented through a joint work programme.
The information obtained through the arrangement will provide both parties with valuable new insights into current and future drug problems and contribute to their ongoing strategic goals.
DEVIDA is the competent institution in charge of designing and conducting the drug policy in Peru. EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel will visit DEVIDA in October to discuss collaboration under the new agreement.
Peru is one of the countries participating the ongoing COPOLAD III programme.
