The Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group) held the second meeting of the Steering Committee for the project "Supporting the Republic of Moldova in addressing the risks and harms related to drug use and addictive behaviours”.

The event brought together representatives from key state institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, and the National Administration of Penitentiaries. 

The Steering Committee reviewed the project achievements in 2025 and identified priorities for 2026. Development of the first National Drugs and Addiction Strategy of the Republic of Moldova using local and international expertise from five European countries, and increased knowledge of prison professionals on treatment and care of substance use and behavioural disorders were emphasised as key results in the first year of project implementation.

The project partners also discussed and approved the next six-month work plan for April-September 2026. The discussion focused on developing an Action Plan to support the first National Drugs and Addiction Strategy of the Republic of Moldova, which will define concrete actions and roles of the implementing ministries in achieving strategic priorities across four key pillars: repression, prevention, treatment and harm reduction.

In the next period, the project plans to strengthen knowledge and skills of institutional partners and specialists on evidence-based drug prevention approaches, investigating drug-related crime online, addressing digital addictions, and innovative programmes in drug and addiction treatment. The project will also work together with the National Administration of Penitentiaries on piloting the first intervention on gambling disorders in Moldovan prisons.

The project is financed under Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028 and is scheduled to run until the end of 2026.