Opening remarks by Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment
Ministers, State Secretary,
Members of the Working Group,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to address this inaugural meeting of the Working Group tasked with developing the new National Strategy on Drugs and Addictions of the Republic of Moldova for 2026-2032.
Allow me to begin by conveying warm greetings on behalf of the Council of Europe and its International Cooperation Group on Drugs and Addictions – the Pompidou Group.
The Pompidou Group, an enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe, brings together countries from across Europe and beyond – including Israel, Mexico and Morocco – reflecting its truly international perspective. Since its creation in 1971, the Group has played a pioneering role in promoting evidence-based, integrated and human-rights-compliant responses to drugs and addictions, through its unique platform that bridges research, policy and practice.
Moldova joined the Pompidou Group in 2012, although our cooperation began even earlier through targeted activities and country-specific projects. This long-standing partnership has been built on sustained dialogue and practical solutions, through both bilateral and multilateral initiatives, tailored to Moldova’s needs and aligned with international standards and good practices. Our cooperation also supports Moldova’s commitments as a member of the Council of Europe and its ambitions for EU accession, and we value being recognised as a trusted and reliable partner in this process.
Work in the field of drugs and addictions directly advances the Council of Europe’s core priorities: the protection of human rights, including the right to health; the safeguarding of vulnerable groups; the promotion of gender equality; and the fight against discrimination affecting people who use drugs and those living with addictions. At the same time, an effective and comprehensive response must also address drug-related and organised crime, money laundering and corruption, always in line with evidence-based and rights-respecting standards, and with full respect for the rule of law.
Today, we face challenges that are increasingly global, interconnected and fast-evolving. Organised crime is more sophisticated and transnational; new psychoactive substances continue to evade traditional control mechanisms; digital platforms facilitate new forms of drug distribution; and persistent stigma and barriers to services undermine access to care. Children, young people and other vulnerable groups are exposed to compounded risks, notably through the growth of behavioural addictions, including gambling and gaming.
These developments were clearly recognised in the Pompidou Group Ministerial Declaration of 28 November 2025, adopted at the 19th Ministerial Conference in Strasbourg. For the period 2026-2029, the Group will focus in particular on: the proliferation of online and digital addictions; the urgency of tackling drug-related crime; the centrality of human rights; and the need for integrated, gender-sensitive and evidence-based responses at all levels.
We were especially honoured that the Moldovan delegate, representing your Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, addressed the opening of the Ministerial Conference, reaffirming Moldova’s leadership and strong commitment to addressing drugs and addictions in full alignment with the Organisation’s core values: human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Conference was also addressed by Mr Sorin Popescu, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice, further underlining this commitment.
In this context, Moldova’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, from November 2025 to May 2026, represents an important opportunity to advance progress in Europe towards peace, resilience and democratic renewal. The priorities of your Presidency – including a New Democratic Pact for Europe, stronger institutions and rights, and responses to the complex crises of our time – provide a strong political framework that is closely aligned with the objectives of the national strategy this Working Group is mandated to develop.
The Pompidou Group warmly welcomes Moldova’s clear commitment to preparing a new National Strategy on Drugs and Addictions, and I would like to reaffirm the readiness of the Council of Europe to continue providing expert support across the four core pillars of our work: prevention; harm reduction; treatment and recovery; and supply reduction.
At the same time, while substance use and substance-use disorders remain a central concern, it is essential that sufficient and systematic attention is also given to behavioural addictions. This is crucial to ensure a forward-looking policy framework capable of responding to emerging public-health risks, including the growing prevalence of problematic digital use, particularly among children and young people.
We are encouraged by the Moldovan authorities’ commitment to broad stakeholder engagement and openness to learning from European and EU experience. The participation today of the EU Drugs Agency, as well as experts from Czechia, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal and Romania, brings valuable insights into effective policy design and implementation. The inclusive composition of this Working Group – bringing together state institutions, civil society and experts – provides a solid foundation for a strategy that is genuinely evidence-based, grounded in human rights and public health, and attentive to the voices of people with lived and living experience.
As your work progresses, I encourage the Working Group to continue these meaningful consultations and to reflect closely on national priorities and challenges. Through sustained dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders, the Strategy will be well placed to contribute to a safer, healthier and more resilient Moldova, while also strengthening regional security and prosperity.
I wish the Working Group every success in this important endeavour, and I look forward to the day when we celebrate the adoption of Moldova’s National Strategy on Drugs and Addictions and work together towards its effective and transformative implementation.
Thank you very much for your attention.