European Conference on Drug-Related Violence

About the event

The first European Conference on Drug-Related Violence, organised by the EUDA was held in Brussels between 26–27 November 2025 in Brussels.  Over two days, leading experts and policymakers engaged in dynamic discussions, addressing the multifaceted challenges of this phenomenon. The issues explored ranged from public safety and health implications, to responses and innovative strategies and interventions. The focus of the event was how to break the cycle of drug-related violence and build a better future.

#BreakTheCycle #BuildTheFuture

Presentations and videos from the conference

A selection of presentations and videos from the conference are now available below.

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Background and context

The European Union (EU) is at a critical juncture in addressing the escalating threat posed by drug-related violence. This violence manifests itself in various and increasingly complex forms, often fuelled by organised crime that operates in and exploits fragile social environments, affecting communities at multiple levels and perpetuating cycles of harm.

Recognising this, the EU Drugs Strategy 2021–2025 and the EU Roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, emphasise the need for strong and early preventative measures that tackle the root causes of organised crime. While a number of tools and strategies exist at EU level, the increasing complexity of violence within drug markets still presents significant challenges. These include multi-sector and multi-level coordination and the need for robust, timely and comparable data and indicators for designing effective responses and evidence-based policies. 

In response to these challenges, the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA), in collaboration with the European Commission organised the first European Conference on Drug-Related Violence. This invitation-only event addressed the different aspects of drug-related violence, balancing both health and security concerns and promoting community safety and public health. It brought together diverse voices from policy, practice, research and civil society, providing a cross-sectoral perspective of how drug-related violence affects people's lives, businesses and economies, and requires a unified and coordinated EU approach in response. The conference catalysed collaboration in this area by providing a platform for discussion and sharing best practices, forming a call for stakeholders to work together towards a safer and more secure Europe.

The conference sought to achieve key objectives that will drive coordinated efforts across sectors, including:

Objectives

• Establish a comprehensive understanding of the situation regarding drug-related violence across the EU;
• Inform the development of a plan to expand the monitoring of drug-related violence in the EU;
• Highlight initiatives already underway in the EU and promote innovation and research;
• Foster multi-sector and multi-level collaboration among relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement, health and social services, local authorities and policymakers;
• Consider how available information, methods, and analyses can be applied to support Europe's preparedness for future threats in this area; and
• Advance prevention responses and the development of protective environments and communities.

Presentations from the conference

27 November 2024

Morning

Afternoon