The Ministerial Conference is the Pompidou Group’s policy-making body. It is the high-level political forum where Ministers responsible for drug policies meet, as a general rule, every four years. Ministers from non-member states may also attend subject to a specific decision being taken by the Group to that end.

The role of the Ministerial Conference is to formulate the strategic direction of, and priorities for, the Group’s work. Ministers consider a report drawn up by the Permanent Correspondents on the activities of the past four years. They then approve the work programme and elect the Presidency and Vice-Presidency for the coming period. The final declaration adopted by the Ministers at the end of the Ministerial Conference, based on the results and conclusions from the Group’s work, sets out the broad policy direction to be followed by the Group in the coming years.

19th Ministerial Conference

The 19th Ministerial Conference was organised on 27 and 28 November 2025, at the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg, France, under the Swiss acting Presidency of the Pompidou Group.

It took place at a pivotal moment:         

The completion of the 2023–2025 Work Cycle and assessment of its impact; increasing complexity and challenges of drug markets, with links to organised crime and international trafficking networks; emerging challenges such as online addictions, digital risks and evolving patterns of substance use and distribution through digital platforms; the importance of human rights, public health, and co-operation frameworks at the core of drug and addiction policies.

The Conference also featured the adoption of the 2026–2029 Work Programme and a Declaration by the Ministers, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the Pompidou Group’s strategic priorities. In addition, it emphasised the importance of fostering synergies with international partners such as the European Commission, EUDA, CICAD/OAS, INCB, UNODC, WHO and international civil society organisations.

 More information - Conference web page

previous ministerial conferences

18th Ministerial Conference - Lisbon, Portugal, 13-14 December 2022

Lisbon, 14.12.22 - Closing the 18th Ministerial Conference of the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group, ministers and high-level participants from 41 Pompidou Group member states have called for a human rights centred approach to address drugs addictions and related disorders.

In their “Lisbon Declaration”, participants furthermore called for exploring strategies to address addictions related to the use of communication and information technologies, as part of a broad policy direction to be followed by the Pompidou Group over the near future.

Portugal, which has been presiding the Pompidou Group since 2019, hosted the two-day conference, which gathered some 150 participants, including ministers, representatives from 47 governments and six international organisations or agencies, as well as drug policy experts, law enforcement, health and justice officials, and civil society representatives.

Before adopting their declaration, participants assessed the impact of current trends in drug trafficking, from increased use of performance- and image-enhancing drugs to behavioural addictions, such as excessive and compulsive video gaming, gambling and online shopping.

On the basis of a report drawn up by the Pompidou Group’s Permanent Correspondents, conference participants also reviewed activities and achievements under Portugal’s presidency and adopted a new work programme for 2023-2025. 

The conference inaugurates a new era, as Portuguese Health Minister Manuel Pizarro handed over its presidency to Italy, represented by the Under Secretary of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Alfredo Mantovano. Switzerland has been named Pompidou group Vice-President. 

17th Ministerial Conference - Stavanger, 27-28 November 2018

Attended by some 110 participants, including several ministers and state secretaries, government officials and leaders of international organisations, the 17th Ministerial Conference of the Pompidou Group was dedicated to the theme “Sustainable drug policies respectful of human rights”. One of the main outcomes of the Conference was the launch of a revision of the founding resolution to make the Group fit for the challenges of the 21st century.

 

 

16th Ministerial Conference - Strasbourg, 19-20 November 2014

Ministerial Conference 2014

Delegations from all over Europe as well as from non-European countries met at the 16th Ministerial Conference of the Pompidou Group to forge ahead with the anti-drug policies of tomorrow. Seven ministers and more than fifty national delegations attended.

 

 

15th Ministerial Conference - Strasbourg, 3-4 November 2010

The 15th Ministerial Conference was dedicated to the theme “Towards a coherent policy on psychoactive substances”. The high-level officials who attended renewed their commitment to the Pompidou Group as a unique and flexible forum in Europe for addressing policy, research and practice through open debate, which contributes to reducing drug misuse and combating illicit trafficking and the associated adverse effects.