At the end of October 2021, member states of the Pompidou Group launched the official call for the Presidency of the Group for the period 2023-2025.

In response to this call, Minister for Youth Fabiana Dadone announced Italy's candidature at the 6th Italian National Conference on Addictions (Genova, 27-28 November 2021). This was later confirmed in an official letter stating Italy’s intention to actively contribute to the drafting process of the next three-year work programme of the Group.

“We firmly believe that the Pompidou Group has been able to identify and work on several relevant issues and it is our intention to ensure continuity, enhancing the Group’s activities in the framework shaped by the new Statute”.

In his letter of candidacy, Italy also outlines its priorities for the Pompidou Group’s future work:

• To focus on the introduction of new initiatives pertaining to the new Statute encompassing behavioural and other addictions besides illicit drugs,
• To strengthen a gender-specific dimension in drug policies,
• To extend cooperation in the Mediterranean region, maintaining a human rights-sensitive transversal approach.

In addition, Switzerland has put forward its candidature for the future vice-presidency of the Pompidou Group.

The next Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the Group will be elected at its 18thMinisterial Conference planned in Lisbon on 13-14 December 2022 and will ensure the implementation of the new work programme for the period 2023-2025.