In Brussels on 28^th September, the Cooperation Programme on Drug Policies between Latin America and the European Union, (COPOLAD II) presented the objectives and courses of action for its second phase, within the framework of the communication activities planned by the European Commission to inform citizens and institutions of its actions and most important projects.

A common challenge

The challenges posed by drug-related problems are international in scope, and therefore also affect the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). For this reason, community institutions, within the framework of European Union relations with this region, have developed a group of programmes focused on technical and operational exchange in this area. This includes the creation and subsequent expansion of the COPOLAD Programme, which aims to create the necessary context for making the public policies on drugs of the CELAC countries increasingly balanced, comprehensive, evidence-based and, ultimately, more effective.

These conditions are essential for the development of an effective global policy regarding drugs, as recognised recently at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS 2016), held in New York in April of this year.

Objectives of the programme

The event presented the main objectives that will guide the second phase of this programme until its conclusion in 2019. Among these, the following are notable: strengthen the national agencies responsible for this issue in CELAC, and promote bi-regional dialogue with the EU. This will strengthen the development of public policies and lead to a significant reduction of the risks to society and health associated with drugs, in addition to reinforcing points in common between CELAC and the EU, particularly those focused on ensuring respect for human rights, the gender perspective and empowerment of women, protection of health and public security, and good governance policies.

The event was opened by Jean-Paul Joulia, Head of Unit, Regional Programmes for Latin America and the Caribbean of DG DEVCO (EuropeAid). Other participants included Teresa Salvador, Director of COPOLAD, accompanied by Allele G. Reid, First Secretary/Consul to the Jamaican Embassy of the European Union, and Juan Guzik, First Secretary to the Argentinean Embassy of the European Union.

The COPOLAD II Programme is managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) and will be for four years. It is also funded entirely by the European Commission with a budget of €10 million.

Click this link to view a retransmission of the event: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/news-and-events/infopoint-lunchtime-conference-copolad_eninfopoint-lunchtime-conference-copolad_en