On 18 and 19 May, our Executive Director Lorraine Nolan represented the EUDA at the MED9 Ministers of the Interior Conference in Rovinj, Croatia, alongside Mediterranean EU Member States, EU institutions and agencies working together on shared challenges in migration, security and organised crime.
MED9 is a group of nine EU countries (Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia) established to strengthen cooperation and coordinate positions on issues of common interest, particularly in the areas of migration, protection of the EU external borders, Mediterranean security, energy, climate policies and relations with countries of the southern neighbourhood.
The conference, hosted by Croatia as current chair of the MED9, brought together partners from across the EU, including European Commissioners Dubravka Šuica and Magnus Brunner. Dr Nolan contributed to the discussion on maritime drug trafficking, a key issue for Europe’s internal security.
Seaports remain major entry points for illicit drugs into the EU, and criminal networks continue to adapt their methods, routes and scale. Addressing this requires a coordinated response across countries and sectors, combining operational action with strategic alignment. Dr Nolan highlighted the importance of strengthening monitoring and preparedness, using foresight to better anticipate emerging risks. She also underlined the need to expand partnerships, also with the private sector, and to apply a broader One Safety approach that brings together security, public health and social responses. Working together across Member States, EU agencies and international partners is key to responding effectively to the evolving nature of drug trafficking.
