A focussed working group met online on 31 March 2026 to initiate preparations for the Seventh Expert Network Session on General Aviation, scheduled for 10–11 June 2026 in Strasbourg, France.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group), including the Austrian Presidency and Mexican Vice-Presidency, as well as experts from the Secretariat General of the Benelux Union and the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

The upcoming session will be co-organised by the Pompidou Group, EMPACT, and the Secretariat General of the Benelux Union, emphasising a strong partnership to address the criminal misuse of general aviation.

Discussions included a review of past work, ongoing initiatives and speaker sought profiles, along with the review of the key topics for the June session. The session will focus on recent trends in general aviation trafficking, emerging technical solutions, and operational challenges faced by law enforcement and border authorities, with the goal of enhancing co-operation and information-sharing among participating countries and organisations.

The Pompidou Group’s expert network on General Aviation, established since 2017, positions it as a leader in building a unified platform to combat the misuse of general aviation—such as private jets, ultra-light aircraft, and helicopters—by criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking. This work remains central to the Group’s 2026–2029 programme, which strengthens law enforcement and border authorities through improved risk management, detection and international co-operation.