Representatives of the Government of Montenegro and the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) signed a working agreement that envisages the exchange of expertise between the involved bodies in order to develop capacity for data collection and reporting on drugs in the region.
The working agreement was signed today in Podgorica by Minister of the Interior Danilo Šaranović, Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović and EUDA Executive Director Alexis Gosdel, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Forum European Union (EU) - Western Balkans on Justice and Internal Affairs, which is held in Budva.
"The new agreement envisages the exchange of expertise between the involved bodies, thus contributing to the development of capacity for data collection and reporting on drugs in the region," the statement of the European House states.
As it is added, the Working Agreement enables the exchange of strategic information on drug-related health and safety threats, as well as experiences on health and social responses to drug-related problems.
"It also enables the transfer of knowledge and data through the Montenegrin national early warning system about new psychoactive substances," the announcement says.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ilva Johansson said that a better exchange of data with the EU Drug Agency will improve operational cooperation in the fight against drugs and drug trafficking, which pose a threat to health and safety both in the EU and in Montenegro.
"This agreement is an important step forward in the EU's cooperation with Montenegro and will bring Montenegro closer to the EU," Johanson said.
Šaranović said that Montenegro, by establishing cooperation with the EU Agency, will further develop the capacities of structures for collecting, processing, analyzing data and information in accordance with indicators and standards that are scientifically based and as such the only valid ones for comprehensive monitoring in the field of drugs.
The ultimate goal, as he pointed out, is a multidisciplinary overview of the problem of drug abuse in Montenegro, on the basis of which indicators future policies to prevent drug abuse are directed and planned.
Ivanović, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, said that the Working Agreement is extremely important because it represents the basis for strengthening cooperation between Montenegro and the EU in the fight against the use and abuse of drugs.
"Establishing a working arrangement with EUDA enables Montenegro to access the latest data, expertise and best practices, which is crucial for the improvement of national policies in the field of prevention, addiction treatment and risk reduction," Ivanović said.
As he pointed out, the strengthening of the National Drug Observatory contributes to better monitoring of the situation in the country, while the exchange of strategic information increases the security and health protection of citizens, especially in the context of European integration and harmonization of legislation with EU standards.
"Working agreements, such as the one signed today, represent an important preparatory step for candidate countries for EU membership on the way to full membership. They enable the exchange of strategic information and expertise, which is a key asset in dealing with drug-related health and security threats," Gosdel said.
He said he is confident that the agreement, together with the activities within the current IPA8 project, will provide a strong basis for improved cooperation between the EUDA and the Montenegrin National Drug Observatory and its network of national experts and data-providing institutions.
The statement reminds that EUDA started cooperation with Montenegro in 2007, within the framework of EU-funded technical projects designed to prepare partners from the Western Balkans for EU accession.
It is stated that Montenegro is one of the six partners currently receiving support within the EUDA IPA8 project, which runs from January last year to December 2026.
Montenegro's cooperation with EUDA takes place through the National Drug Observatory, which is located within the Ministry of Health.
"Following a recent field assessment carried out by EUDA experts in June, it has been shown that progress has been made in the three main functions performed by the National Drug Observatory: data collection, monitoring, analysis and interpretation of data collected and reporting and dissemination of information," says the announcement.
As it is added, the Working Agreement signed today paves the way for greater cooperation in monitoring and reporting on the phenomenon of drugs in the EU and beyond, as well as strengthening preparedness in relation to drugs.
Bonus video:
