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Issue 162 February 2023 MARKETS Officials visit Port of Antwerp following continued rise in cocaine seizures  European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson visited the Port of Antwerp on 7 February, following the continued rise in the quantity of cocaine seized at the port. The Commissioner was accompanied by Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden, EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel and a representative of Europol. In recent years, Belgium has become the country seizing the largest quantities of cocaine in the EU.  Read more >> | Press conference >>  GOVERNANCE New work programme prepares agency for significant changes ahead This month, the EMCDDA published its latest three-year work programme in the form of the Single Programming Document (SPD) for 2023–2025. This period promises to be an exciting phase for the organisation during which it transforms into the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) in 2024. The current SPD includes the 2023 annual work programme. Key activities this year will include: preparing the organisation for a broader new mandate, serving our customers with timely analysis on hot topics (e.g. cannabis policies), and furthering our digital-first communication approach in the delivery of services and products. Message from the Director >> | SPD 2023–2025 >> EMCDDA founding regulation turns 30 On 8 February, the EMCDDA founding regulation turned 30. On 8 February 1993, the adoption of Council Regulation (EEC) No 302/93 marked the birth of the agency. This was a milestone in the history of European action on drugs, symbolising a major political decision to build drug policies on scientific evidence rather than on ideology. Since its creation, the EMCDDA has provided strategic analysis in a policy area that cuts across health and security. The agency opened for business in Lisbon in 1995 and celebrated 25 years of monitoring in 2020. News item >> | Timeline >> | History >>  INTERNATIONAL  Cooperation with Central Asia: EMCDDA and FIIAPP sign working arrangement  On 15 February, the EMCDDA signed a working arrangement with the International Ibero-American Foundation for Public Policies and Administrations (FIIAPP) on the implementation of activities under the latest Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP 7). The activities include facilitating the exchange of knowledge between experts in the EU and Central Asia and offering EMCDDA internships to Central Asian nationals. CADAP is a drug demand reduction initiative designed to promote the development of effective, comprehensive drug policies, based on scientific evidence and best practice. Five Central Asian countries participate in the programme: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.  Read more >>  LEARNING Latest webinar recording available 'Methamphetamine in Europe — past and present' was the title of our first webinar of 2023. For those who missed the event on 15 February, you can now catch up by viewing the recording. The webinar explored the origins, development and current problem of methamphetamine in Europe, with a specific focus on Czechia and Spain. Read more >> | Watch video >> European Drugs Summer School 2023 'Mental health and drug-related issues' will be the theme of the 2023 European Drugs Summer School (EDSS), taking place in Lisbon from 26 June to 7 July. This face-to-face two-week course will include lectures on drugs and mental health, dual diagnosis and integrated interventions. Study visits will be organised to one of the Portuguese commissions for dissuasion as well as to mobile methadone units and a drug consumption room in Lisbon. During the course, students will participate in interactive workshops to discuss their own projects and views. The course will conclude with an open debate with guest speakers, followed by an exam for those wishing to obtain credits. EDSS >> | Read more >>  Deadlines: Early-bird 28.02.2023 | Final 29.05.2023 Apply now for EDSS bursaries! A number of bursaries for the 2023 European Drugs Summer School (EDSS) have been announced this month. These are offered under the EMCDDA's technical cooperation programmes (COPOLAD III, EU4MD II and IPA8). | Latin America and the Caribbean (COPOLAD III) >>  | European Neighbourhood Policy area (EU4MD II) >>  | Western Balkan region (IPA8) >>  PRISONS New WHO status report on prison health The EMCDDA participated in the launch of the Status report on prison health in the WHO European region 2022 at an event hosted by the Portuguese Government on 15 February. The report provides an overview of prison health problems and the performance of prison health systems in the region, based on survey data from 36 countries. The data show that countries' response to COVID-19 in prisons was generally good, but they also reveal areas of concern, such as overcrowding and a lack of mental health services. During the meeting, the EMCDDA presented its work on harm reduction in European prisons. The agency collaborates with WHO-Europe on this topic as a member of the steering committee of its Health in Prison Programme (HIPP) and of the technical expert group of its Health in Prisons European Database (HIPED).  WHO news release >> | EMCDDA prison topics page >> VISITS CEPOL visit to EMCDDA On 16 February, Montserrat Marín López, Executive Director of the European Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), paid her first visit to the EMCDDA. The talks focused on cooperation between the two agencies and the EMCDDA’s current and future role in the light of a new mandate in 2024. The agencies signed a working arrangement in 2022 to improve their capacity to deliver training to the European law-enforcement community and reinforce the drug-related content of training curricula. Read more >> Ambassadorial events On 13 February, EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel joined in celebrations marking 50 years of EU membership of Denmark and Ireland. The event was organised by the Ambassadors of the two countries in Portugal, H.E. Maria Nilaus Tarp and H.E. Ralph Victory, and the Head of the European Commission Representation in Portugal Sofia Moreira de Sousa. On 22 February, the Director was also honoured to welcome to the agency the Ambassadors of Mexico and Australia, H.E. Bruno Figueroa and H.E. Indra McCormick. Related links  News | Events | Publications