On 2 July, a new European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) will officially replace the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), which has been operating in Lisbon since 1995. The development is the result of new legislation entering into application on that day which revises the EMCDDA mandate and name and formally establishes the EUDA.
The EUDA will have stronger powers than its predecessor to address current and future drug problems (1). With its broader mandate, the new agency will contribute to EU preparedness on drugs, helping the EU and its Member States to anticipate and respond effectively to the impact of drug-related threats.
- Official opening: The official EUDA launch ceremony will take place on 3 July, in the presence of European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson.
- Working Arrangement with Ecuador: In the margins of the event, the EUDA will sign a Working Arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador, designed to enhance cooperation in addressing drug-related challenges.
Invitation: Press conference
Date: Wednesday 3 July 2024 at 10.00 WEST (Lisbon), 11.00 CEST (Brussels)
Location: Praça Europa 1, Cais do Sodré, 1249-289 Lisbon, Portugal
Speakers:
- Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs
- Franz Pietsch, Chair of the EUDA Management Board (Austria)
- Alexis Goosdeel, EUDA Executive Director
- Members of the Portuguese Government
Livestreaming: The in-person event will also be livestreamed. Further details will be available on the event page: 'Inauguration of the EUDA'.
RSVP: Journalists wishing to attend the event in person are requested to RSVP to: press@emcdda.europa.eu. (Journalists not attending in person may submit written questions to this email address before 1 July).
Please arrive at the event at 9.30 to register at reception.
The press conference will be conducted in English.
