Regulation (EU) 2023/1322 on the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/1322 - adopted by the co-legislators on 27 June 2023 - revising the mandate of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and transforming it into the European Union Drugs Agency. It repeals Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006.

Further information:

This Regulation establishes the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). It replaces and succeeds the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) established by Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006.

Following the fourth evaluation of the Centre in line with the requirements of the Regulation, the European Commission concluded that while it worked well, further improvements were possible in several areas. The finding was further substantiated during contacts with the EMCDDA and its stakeholders. It became clear that Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 did not reflect an evolving reality of the drug phenomenon and was out of step with the tasks the Centre needed to perform to address the related challenges.

The EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 and the EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025 call for a revision of the mandate of the EMCDDA. The European Commission adopted a draft law on 12 January 2022 delivering on that commitment. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the proposed Regulation on 9 June 2022. The European Parliament's relevant committee adopted a negotiating position on 1 December, which was later endorsed by the plenary in the same month. A informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 28 March 2023. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 13 June and by the Council on 27 June. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 27 June 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 30 June 2023.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

eucrim: News, 06/04/2022: Proposal for a European Union Drugs Agency https://eucrim.eu/news/proposal-for-a-european-union-drugs-agency/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 07/06/2023: Strengthening the EU Drugs Agency's mandate https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)747928

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News

EurActiv, 17/06/2022: EU gears up to extend drug agency mandate as illicit drug production increases https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-gears-up-to-extend-drug-agency-mandate-as-illicit-drug-production-increases/

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)18: Proposal for a Regulation on the European Union Drugs Agency https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:18:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)8: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:8:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)9: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:9:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on European Union Drugs Agency (2022/0009(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/0009(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Strengthening of the EU drugs agency's mandate https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-promoting-our-european-way-of-life/file-strengthening-of-the-eu-drugs-agency-s-mandate

Official Website of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/emcdda-home-page_en

European Commission: DG Migration and Home Affairs: Drug Policy https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/internal-security/organised-crime-and-human-trafficking/drug-policy_en

General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: EU drugs policy https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-drugs-policy/

European Commission: Press Release, 12/01/2022: Commission proposes stronger mandate for EU Drugs Agency as illicit market proliferates https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_302

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09/06/2022: EU Drugs Agency: Council adopts negotiating mandate on strengthening the role of the agency https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/09/eu-drugs-agency-council-adopts-negotiating-mandate-strengthening-its-role/

European Parliament: Press Release, 01/12/2022: EU Drugs Agency: MEPs give the green light to a more powerful agency https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221128IPR58111/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 28/03/2023: EU Drugs Agency: Council presidency and European Parliament agree to strengthen the agency’s role https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/28/eu-drugs-agency-council-presidency-and-european-parliament-agree-to-strengthen-the-agency-s-role/

European Parliament: Press Release, 28/03/2023: EU Drugs Agency: deal on a new agency with enhanced powers https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230327IPR78510/

European Commission: Press Release, 28/03/2023: EU Drugs Agency: Commission welcomes political agreement on new fully-fledged Agency https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1936

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/06/2023: EU Drugs Agency: upgraded agency approved by Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IPR96501/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 27/06/2023: Council gives final green light to creation of EU drugs agency https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/27/council-gives-final-green-light-to-creation-of-eu-drugs-agency/

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