The Pompidou Group contributes to developing effective and evidence-based drug policies in 36 member states of the Council of Europe. It provides a multidisciplinary forum for policymakers, professionals, and researchers to exchange information and ideas on drug issues. Key activities include the European Drug Prevention Prize, promoting human rights in drug policy, research on policy coherence, and cooperation on drug supply reduction through projects focused on airports, precursors, and the Mediterranean region.

1. www.coe.int/Pompidou
Pompidou Group – DG1 Open Day 19.05.2014
The Pompidou Group:
Its role and activities

2. The European Framework
DG I – ISAC Information Society
and Action Against Crime
Pompidou Group
Set up in 1971
Incorporated into CoE in 1980
Council of Europe European Union
European Commission
DG - Justice, Freedom and
security
• EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020
EMCDDA
Set up in 1993
Based in Lisbon
Role = provide an
overview of European
drug problems
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Next Meetings:
74th Meeting of the Permanent
Correspondents:
3-4 June, 2014
16th
Ministerial Conference:
9-20 November, 2014
MoU between
Pompidou Group and
EMCDDA, November
2010

3. (Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
in Drugs)
• intergovernmental body set up in 1971 at the suggestion of
the French President Georges Pompidou.
• informal co-operation forum of 7 European countries
(France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
United Kingdom) to share their experience with combating
drug abuse and drug trafficking.
• Enlarged partial agreement of the Council of Europe in 1980.
• Co-operation is extending. In 2014, 36 member states.
• Most recent : Israel, Morocco, Serbia. Mexico as observer
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The Pompidou Group

4. • mission: contribute to the development of multidisciplinary,
innovative, effective and “evidence-based” drug policies in 36
member states.
• seeks to link policy, practice and science.
• provides a multidisciplinary forum at the wider European level
where policy-makers, professionals and researchers exchange
information and ideas on drug misuse and trafficking problems.
• plays a bridging role with the Eastern European (Network Drug Policy
cooperation in South Eastern Europe) and Mediterranean
neighbourhood (MedNET) and with countries outside Europe : Japan,
Mexico, USA (airport Group) China and India (precursors network).
• cooperates to CoE initiatives on eg internet gouvernance and South
Programme placing special emphasis on respect of human rights.
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The Role of the Pompidou Group
Practice
Science
Policy

5. • Secretariat in DGI Human Rights and Rule of Law of Council of Europe, Strasbourg
• Ministerial Conference (held every 4 years) -> adopts work programme
• Permanent Correspondents = representatives of the 36 member states; senior officials in
ministries in charge of drug issues (held biannually)
• 2011-2014 work programme: 25 activities out of which 14 ad hoc activities to reply to the
emerging needs. Here are some demand reduction and supply reduction activities.
• European drug Prevention Prize
• Human rights in drug policy
• Research, Policy and Practice
• Drug Supply reduction
• Gender in drug policy
• Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region MedNET
• Support to national drug policies
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The Pompidou Group’s Structure

6. The European Drug Prevention Prize
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Created in 2004 to recognise the importance and protective
factor of active youth participation in the development of
drug prevention projects
•Every 2 years, 3 drug prevention projects led by youth for
youth are rewarded,
•A jury of 7 young people assess the projects.
The Prize will be awarded at the 16th Ministerial Conference
of the Pompidou Group in November 2014.
Each winning project will receive a trophy, a certificate and
€5,000.
It is open to the 47 CoE countries and to MedNET countries.
In 2012 : the winners were projects from Germany,
Lebanon, and Spain,

7. Human rights in drug policy
Aim: promote human rights and bringing them to the forefront of drug
policies as stipulated in the PG Declaration of Ministers in 2010
• Long perceived as an offense or deviant behaviour, drug addiction is now
acknowledged as a medical condition. As such, access to appropriate treatment
for those who suffer from addictive behaviour is no privilege, it is a right. The right
to equitable access to health care services derives from the fundamental right to
health which is enshrined in international law and especially in the European
Human Rights Convention.
• The 2013 PG Athens Declaration on protecting public health by ensuring essential
services in drug policy austerity budgets reminds governmental and non-
governmental stakeholders to remain vigilant as to the observation of human
rights of people affected by drug use irrespective of budgetary constraints
imposed as a result of the economic crisis.
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8. Aim: development and implementation of coherent policies for psychoactive
substances
• This research work has evolved and is reflected in 3 publications :
• From a policy on illegal drugs to a policy on psychoactive subtances 2008
• Towards an integrated policy on psychoactive substances 2010
• Reflections on the concept of coherency for a policy on psychoactive substances and beyond
2012
• recent work focused on “what models could be used to test the coherence of a drug policy”
Coherence policy markers for psychoactive substances were designed and tested among 8
countries. Publication at the 2014 Ministerial Conference, it should be a tool for policy makers
to devise effective and cost efficient drug policy.
Social drug research is promoted through the funding of ESSD (European Society for Social
Drug Research) annual book) which provides policy makers with insights into policy
development, research and patterns of drug use.
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Policy, practice,Research

9. Airports: Customs and law enforcement officers from 36 countries and Japan, Mexico, USA, international
organisations, In 2014 extension to MedNET : Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon
Aim: Harmonise tools to improve drug detection in airports, and enhance inter-airport cooperation.
• Annual reviews of the development of drug seizures at airports
• Promote the undertaking of multilateral drug seizure operational activities
• Regular updates of contacts, crime figures, and the Passenger Control Handbook
Precursors: Customs and law enforcement officers, public prosecutors and private sector from 36
countries and China and India
Aim: Prevent licit and illicit drug precursors’ diversion towards the manufacture of illegal
substances.
• 13-14 October, 2011: conference on new threats arising in the field of precursor diversion.
(Closing the gaps in the judicial chain from the identification of suspect assignments and
backtracking to prosecution and sanction).
• 13-15 November 2013 annual meeting of the precursor network
• 24-26 September 2014 annual meeting of the precursor network
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Drug Supply Reduction

10. • The Pompidou Group is perceived as a pioneer in Europe regarding the integration of the gender
aspect in drug policies. A number of conferences were held in the 1990’s.
• As contribution to the Council of Europe Programme for Gender Equality, the Pompidou Group
nominated a gender rapporteur to incorporate gender dimension into its work.
• In 2013, Italy took the initiative to fund a gender specific project : the gender Dimension of Non-
Medical Use of Prescription drugs project.
• The study relies on trends observed in the USA.
• An online survey has just been launched in around 20 countries. It aims to explore gender
differences in NMUPD in Europe and in the Mediterranean Region through a documentation of
data available . The survey should allow to identify gaps available, make recommendations for
further research and possibly recommendations for policy development and practice.
• The report will be presented at a conference in September 2014 in Rome.
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Gender in drug policy

11. MedNET set up in 2006 after start of cooperation in 1999
Aim: promote cooperation, and two-way transfer of
knowledge between countries of both rims of the
Mediterranean (North South and South-North exchanges) as
well as within countries of the Mediterranean (South-South
exchanges).
Objective : improve the quality of drug policy and their
implementation in all participating countries, emphasising a
greater awareness of cultural factors .
12 countries : Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy,
Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia
Budget of voluntary contributions, Annual activity report.
Tailored made work programme replying to the country needs.
Participates in the South Programme, funded by the EU and
implemented by the Council of Europe
Cooperation in the
Mediterranean region
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12. Contribution to human rights and public health through support
to the introduction of opiate substitution treatment in the region
Sustainability of training of Medical staff in addictology
Adaptation of a school survey methodology (MedSPAD) to the
region and use of it by more and more countries
Prevention projects are implemented in the region
Participation of Mediterranean countries in gender projects
Mediterranean countries are joining PG countries in law
enforcement projects (airport group)
Round tables on development of national drug policy in Morocco,
Tunisia and Egypt resulted in revision of drug law and national
Drug observatories are being developed
South-South cooperation
Cooperation goes beyond MedNET countries with study visits
MedNET achievements
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13. • Support to members States for developing, implementing and reviewing national drug
policicies resulted in development of national strategies in Montenegro, Moldova, Georgia,
Ukraine.
• Creation of a network on drug policy cooperation in South East Europe
• Multi-country project on drugs in prisons was conducted in Moldova, Romania,Serbia and
Ukraine with the objective of improving health in penitentiaries with respect for human
rights. Injecting drug users are exposed to overdosing, infections and transmission of
blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis C or HIV.
• Limiting the spread of communicable diseases in prisons thus benefits both prisoners and
society as a whole and reduces the burdens on a country's health system.
The project aims to develop strategies of drug treatment and social re-insertion of drug
using detainees in order to reduce relapse and recidivism. The programme comprises a
strong element of cooperation between the countries involved and aims at extending best
practice throughout Europe as a whole.
Support to drug policy
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14. Cooperation with
international organisations
UNODC
Regional
Offices
INCB WHO-HIPP
EMCDDA
European
Union
Pompidou
Group
In the North African and
Middle East regions.
Participation in the
commission on narcotic
drugs (CND).
Cooperation on backtracking
precursor diversion.
Joined Steering Group on
Health in Prisons Programme
to contribute to the drugs in
prisons program
Memorandum of
Understanding in 2010
Participation in the South Programme
Aim: to avoid overlaps and
to increase synergies.

15. Response to a crisis
Support to opiate substitution treatment in Ukraine: development of an emergency plan
In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine a mission of experts representing Norway,
Poland, Switzerland, and Slovenia will travel to Ukraine on 16-21 May in order to assess the
situation concerning Opiate substitution treatment and to develop an emergency plan. The
mission is organised by the Pompidou Group together with the Ukrainian Drug Control Service in
conjunction with local and international partners.
The expert mission will assess the needs for Methadone supply in dispensaries, clinics and
pharmacies that may receive more clients due to the closure of Methadone dispensaries in
Crimea.
The experts will also conduct information seminars for physicians and therapists providing
Methadone treatment based on international guidelines. Furthermore, the team will share
information about best practices and emergency guidelines in case that the provision of
medicines included under the WHO list of Essential Medicines such as Methadone and HIV
medicines is interrupted. Pharmacists and doctors from Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, who cannot
attend trainings will also be contacted and advised regarding the emergency measures in place.
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16. For further information, please visit our website
http://www.coe.int//pompidou/
Or contact our Secretariat directly
Pompidou Group
Council of Europe
F - 67075 Strasbourg - CEDEX
pompidou.group@coe.int
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17. Thank you for your attention!
florence.mabileau@coe.int – www.coe.int/Pompidou
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