The future EU Drug Strategy (2026–2030), drug policy reforms in candidate countries, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on mental health and substance use were among the key topics discussed at the European Parliament.
On 6 May 2026, Pavel Bém — ECECACD Commissioner, National Drug Coordinator of the Czech Republic, and former Mayor of Prague — addressed the European Parliament’s SANT Committee, outlining priorities for the future development of drug policy across Europe.
In his intervention, he emphasised the importance of evidence-based approaches, balanced policy design, and stronger alignment of drug policy with public health objectives and human rights standards.
Key messages from the discussion
Balancing the EU Drug Strategy (2026–2030)
Pavel Bém underlined the importance of maintaining a balanced approach within the future EU Drug Strategy, ensuring that public health, prevention, treatment, and harm reduction are addressed alongside security and law enforcement measures. He also highlighted the need for a dedicated funding mechanism to sustain public health services across Europe and in EU candidate countries.
Dr. Bém highlighted the EU accession process as an important opportunity to support reforms in candidate countries and strengthen health-oriented, evidence-based, and human rights-centred approaches to drug policy. He noted that the European Parliament and European Commission should consider revising negotiation frameworks to ensure that public health components of drug policy are adequately reflected in accession requirements.
The discussion also addressed the growing impact of war-related trauma on mental health and substance use in Ukraine, underlining the need for long-term support, resilient healthcare systems, and innovative approaches, including psychedelic-assisted therapy.
During the meeting, Pavel Bém also presented the ECECACD position paper “Accession to the EU: A Paradigm Change Towards Health-Based Drug Policy”. The paper analyses how EU enlargement can support the transition towards evidence-based, balanced, and human rights-centred drug policies in candidate countries across Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and Central Asia, while also identifying gaps in current accession practices and outlining recommendations for both EU institutions and candidate countries.
Special thanks to MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis for his leadership and initiative in making this discussion possible from the European Parliament side, and to Olena Kucheruk and ECECACD for the excellent coordination from the ECECACD side.
Watch the video recording of the intervention and discussion with Members of the European Parliament:
https://youtu.be/7pkii8hPtwU
