The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility have agreed a new joint work programme for 2026–2028, reinforcing their cooperation in addressing drug-related challenges at European and international level.
Signed by EUDA Executive Director Dr Lorraine Nolan and Ambassador Xavier Aliaga Sancho, Head of the Mission of Ecuador to the European Union, the programme builds on the Working Arrangement concluded on 3 July 2024. The work programme sets out practical cooperation activities aimed at strengthening data exchange, analytical capacity and coordinated responses to illicit drugs and related crime.
The programme includes exchanges on monitoring methodologies and data, covering both demand and supply reduction. This spans information on drug seizures, prices, purity and drug-related violence, as well as laboratory methods for identifying precursor chemicals. Cooperation will also support the further development of drug information systems to enhance strategic analysis and evidence-based policymaking. Particular attention will be given to monitoring the cocaine market, including production trends, trafficking through seaports and the use of precursors and chemical concealment methods.
A key element of the programme is support for the development of an integrated information system, laying the groundwork for the establishment of a National Drug Observatory in Ecuador. In this context, the EUDA will provide tools, templates and technical expertise. Cooperation will also be strengthened on new psychoactive substances (NPS), supporting the development of a national early warning system to enhance rapid detection and response. Further exchanges will address prevention, treatment, harm reduction and alternative development strategies. Designated contact points will ensure sustained dialogue and the effective implementation of the programme.
The above initiatives are in line with the EUDA International Cooperation Framework (ICF), adopted in June 2025, and contribute to the agency’s wider engagement with the Latin American and Caribbean region.
