The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and the Chilean National Service for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Use (SENDA) have agreed on a new joint work programme defining their cooperation activities for the period 2025–2027. The programme builds on a Working Arrangement signed by the two organisations in November 2024.
The work programme was signed today by Natalia Riffo Alonso, National Director of SENDA, and by Alexis Goosdeel, EUDA Executive Director. The signing ceremony, attended by Antonia Urrejola, Chilean Ambassador to Portugal, took place following a geostrategic discussion held in the margins of the EUDA Management Board meeting (17–19 June). The geostrategic discussion, which focused on ‘Drugs and the environment: towards monitoring environmental damage of illicit drugs in the EU’, brought together representatives of the 29 EUDA countries (27-EU, Norway and Türkiye) and over a dozen international partners including Chile. (1)
The new work programme outlines activities in four priority areas:
Exchanging data-collection methodologies and data — SENDA will share insights on the production of smokable cocaine products in Chile and on MDMA and other stimulant market dynamics. Meanwhile, the EUDA will facilitate Chilean participation in training on strategic market analysis and involvement in health and supply indicator meetings. Both bodies will exchange experiences on monitoring violence linked to drug markets.
Supporting the National Drug Observatory (NDO) — The EUDA will support the development of Chile’s NDO by connecting SENDA with European stakeholders experienced in sentinel networks and emerging trend monitoring. The agency will also boost the NDO’s data collection and monitoring capacity and will present the findings of its European Drug Report to Chilean partners.
Exchanging expertise and data on new psychoactive substances (NPS) — Both parties will exchange expertise and data on NPS and cooperate in establishing a Chilean national early-warning system. They will also exchange information on risk communication strategies, tailored to different audiences.
Exchanging experiences on health and social responses — Cooperation will focus knowledge-sharing on prevention, treatment, harm reduction and social reintegration. SENDA will share its knowledge and expertise on social reintegration services (particularly for women and children) and on advances in treatment for stimulant use (particularly regarding pasta base). The EUDA will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practice on harm reduction, inform SENDA of training and capacity-building opportunities and invite Chilean experts to participate in its webinars.
Through these actions, the EUDA and SENDA reaffirm their commitment to evidence-based policies, international cooperation and effective responses to drug-related challenges in both Europe and Latin America. The plan foresees regular progress reviews and will be updated in the first semester of 2026.
