Back in 1971, Italy has been one of the 7 founding members of the Pompidou Group, the first ever European cooperation platform set up - at the initiative of the then French President - to counter drug abuse and the illicit trafficking in drugs. 51 years after, Italy proudly accedes (for the first time) to the Presidency of the Group, which now comprises 41 member states and has extended its mandate to cover also licit drugs (such as alcohol or tobacco) and new forms of addictions, in particular online addictions.

The road map for the Pompidou Group’s future action is contained in the Lisbon Declaration and the related work programme for 2023-2025, which were both adopted at the Ministerial Conference hosted by the outgoing Portuguese Presidency on 13-14 December 2022. On this occasion, Italy has been elected as the new Presidency, and Switzerland as the Vice-Presidency.

Together with all member states and with the assistance of the Secretariat, the Italian Presidency is committed to fully implement the adopted work programme, keeping in mind the following priorities:

- deepen the already existing relationship with each of the member states, observers and countries that otherwise participate in the Group's activities, to get to know the reality of each State well, to increase the exchange and sharing of experiences, models and good practices, and to involve other international organizations, in a spirit of collaboration;

- make prevention a priority, to which increasingly adequate information, first and foremost among the very young, accompanied by attention to the treatment and recovery of addicts, is essential;

- reduce both the demand, through prevention campaigns, first and foremost in schools, and the supply, by fighting drug trafficking and organized crime;

- promote a human rights-based approach that is non-stigmatising and non-discriminatory: if we want to build welcoming and safe communities, access to care and treatment services must not be denied to anyone. The right to health must be guaranteed to all. Any policy in this area must be based on scientific evidence accredited by institutional sources, as only this can guarantee its effectiveness;

- find a proper balance between freedom and responsibility, at both individual and State level.

Paolo Molinari

Chair of Permanent Correspondents