On Wednesday 16 June, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a revision of the Statute of the Council of Europe’s drug policy cooperation platform (“Pompidou Group”).
This revised Statute allows the extension of the mandate of the “Pompidou Group“ to addictions such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling on the Internet, as well as the promotion of respect for human rights in the policies adopted and the development of synergies between the Group and its main partners.
Portugal, which holds the Presidency of the “Pompidou Group” as well as the current Presidency of the European Union, issued a Declaration welcoming the revised Statute. The latter will “strengthen cooperation between the Pompidou Group and the European Union” and even allow the latter to “become a member of the Group”, noted João Goulão, Portuguese president of the “Pompidou Group”.
To better reflect both its identity as a Council of Europe entity and its expanded mandate, the Group will change its official name from “Co‑operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking” to “Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions”.
Created in 1971 at the initiative of French President Georges Pompidou, the Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It has 41 Member States and brings together experts in law enforcement, the fight against drugs, public health, and education.
Like the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the European Commission currently has permanent observer status.
Link to the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers including the revised Statute: https://bit.ly/3gFogEP (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)