13/06/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 13 June in Strasbourg, MEPs approved the provisional agreement following the interinstitutional negotiations on the creation of a European Drugs Agency (see EUROPE 13152/6) by 592 votes to 12 with 23 abstentions. The new agency will have more powers than the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). It will have a greater capacity for analysis and monitoring, and a faster, more effective early warning system. When new psychoactive substances are discovered, it will carry out a risk assessment in cooperation with other EU bodies, explains a press release. The agency will also set up a European drugs alert system. It may also assist Member States, with their agreement, in developing and implementing drug-related interventions and measures and in evaluating these measures. Link to the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/7g0 (SP)