The Pompidou Group marks an important milestone with the closing ceremony of its first field project, "Developing a Drug Prevention Support Network for Parents and Professionals," held in Tbilisi, Georgia on 18 December 2023.

Representatives from Georgian ministries, state institutions, agencies, civil society, and academia convened at the closing event to celebrate the major accomplishments of the project. The stakeholders emphasized the positive outcomes and results achieved during the 18-month project duration, which was launched in June 2022.

Mr. Denis Huber, Executive Secretary of the Pompidou Group welcomed project key stakeholders to the closing event of the project and congratulated Georgian authorities and people with becoming candidate country of the European Union. This was followed by presentations of the key outcomes and major activities of the project, such as development of the Positive Parenting Programme and its evaluation instruments, cascade of regional training on prevention, adaptation of the DUDIT- online self-assessment questionnaire, development of the practical guidebook on the pressing issues of mental health etc. In addition, challenges and opportunities identified during the project were discussed, paving the way for continued cooperation and collaboration among various actors and agencies.

The event served as a platform for reflection and recognition, highlighting the joint efforts between the Pompidou Group and key stakeholders in advancing evidence-based drug prevention strategies in Georgia. The second part of the conference was dedicated to an open discussion, where key stakeholders proposed new directions for collaboration. Among the key recommendations shared by civil society representatives were the need to enhance the legislative framework to promote human rights-oriented drug prevention in Georgia.

At the end of the conference, Mr Huber reiterated the longstanding cooperation between the Pompidou Group and Georgia and recalled the upcoming 25th anniversary of Georgia joining the Council of Europe due in 2024. He expressed dedication of the Pompidou Group to maintaining a field presence in Georgia to further strengthen cooperation with authorities responsible for drug policy in the country. Mr Huber highlighted the key words of ‘flexibility, commitment and synergies’ that the project has brought to Georgian authorities and key stakeholders.

On the side of the closing event, the Executive Secretary held bilateral meetings with Mr Beka Dzamashvili, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, and the Permanent Correspondent of Georgia to Pompidou Group.