EU-CELAC bi-regional dialogue on drug policies
Consolidating technical and political bridges for a shared challenge
The EU–CELAC Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs constitutes the main bi-regional space for political and technical dialogue. It brings together the 33 countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU).
The COPOLAD III programme plays a key technical and strategic supporting role to the Mechanism, in close coordination with the Council of the European Union, the European Commission (DG INTPA and DG HOME), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the CELAC Diplomatic Missions in Brussels, and other relevant actors.
This coordination makes it possible to align actions with high-level bi-regional commitments, strengthening coherence between technical cooperation and the shared political priorities in the field of drug policy.
Results
Strengthening the operational functioning of the EU-CELAC Mechanism on Drugs
Support for the Mechanism as a technical-political space for discussion on drug policies
Support to the host co-presidencies in the logistical, technical and methodological preparation of High-Level Meetings.
Technical assistance to the Mechanism’s Committees through the preparation of specialised documents, studies and recommendations, which have contributed to enriching the discussions and identifying new areas for bi-regional cooperation.
Technical assistance to the Spanish and Bolivian co-presidencies in drafting and negotiating the CELAC–EU Political Declaration of La Paz (2024), fostering a comprehensive and balanced vision of drug policies.
Ongoing support to the CELAC co-presidencies of the Mechanism (Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic) and to the diplomatic corps of the CELAC Embassies in Brussels, broadening the scope and visibility of bi-regional discussions.
Generation of technical inputs to feed the bi-regional dialogue with innovative approaches
Standards, diagnostics, and studies have been developed and shared within the framework of the Mechanism, in response to the requests made and in line with its strategic priorities.
Environmental and sustainable development approaches:
- The Silent Destruction, on the environmental impacts of illicit drug economies.
Drug trafficking and asset recovery:
- Recommendations on new approaches to combating drug trafficking and money laundering.
- Comparative study on the social reuse of confiscated assets, identifying good practices and bi-regional opportunities.
- AIAMP guidelines on drug trafficking and human trafficking, aimed at linking both phenomena from a gender and human rights perspective.
Drugs and gender:
- Women and Drugs report, presenting a regional diagnosis of gender implications in drug policies and their differentiated impacts.
- AIDEF standards for public defence with a gender perspective for women criminalised for minor drug offences.
- DAIS-AD guide and training course with a gender perspective, aimed at strengthening institutional capacities and mainstreaming this approach in drug policy.
- Studies and methodological review of data collection tools used by National Drug Observatories from a gender and rights-based perspective.
Drugs and vulnerable territories:
- Conclusions on drugs, vulnerabilities, and urban territories. Microtrafficking: challenges and effective responses for Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Guide on Good Practices and Models of Intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union for addressing social vulnerabilities linked to drugs: experiences from the field.
Results
Strengthening the operational functioning of the EU-CELAC Mechanism on Drugs
Support to the host co-presidencies in the logistical, technical and methodological preparation of High-Level Meetings.
Technical assistance to the Mechanism’s Committees through the preparation of specialised documents, studies and recommendations, which have contributed to enriching the discussions and identifying new areas for bi-regional cooperation.
Support for the Mechanism as a technical-political space for discussion on drug policies
- Technical support to the Spanish and Bolivian co-presidencies in the process of drafting the CELAC-EU Political Declaration of La Paz (2024).
- Accompanying the diplomatic staff of CELAC countries in Brussels to improve the scope and projection of bi-regional discussions.
- Generation of inputs for bi-regional dialogue with innovative approaches and themes on drugs.
Generation of technical inputs to feed the bi-regional dialogue with innovative approaches and themes on drugs
Standards, diagnostics, and studies have been developed and shared within the framework of the Mechanism, in response to the requests made and in line with its strategic priorities.
Environmental and sustainable development approaches:
- The Silent Destruction, on the environmental impacts of illicit drug economies.
Drug trafficking and asset recovery:
- Recommendations on new approaches to combating drug trafficking and money laundering.
- Comparative study on the social reuse of confiscated assets, identifying good practices and bi-regional opportunities.
- AIAMP guidelines on drug trafficking and human trafficking, aimed at linking both phenomena from a gender and human rights perspective.
Drugs and gender:
- Women and Drugs report, presenting a regional diagnosis of gender implications in drug policies and their differentiated impacts.
- AIDEF standards for public defence with a gender perspective for women criminalised for minor drug offences.
- DAIS-AD guide and training course with a gender perspective, aimed at strengthening institutional capacities and mainstreaming this approach in drug policy.
- Studies and methodological review of data collection tools used by National Drug Observatories from a gender and rights-based perspective.
Drugs and vulnerable territories:
- Conclusions on drugs, vulnerabilities, and urban territories. Microtrafficking: challenges and effective responses for Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Guide on Good Practices and Models of Intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union for addressing social vulnerabilities linked to drugs: experiences from the field.
¿Cómo trabajamos?
Esquema regional
Conformación de tres grupos de trabajo con 28 países para generar reflexión a través de seminarios, guías conceptuales y metodológicas e intercambio de experiencias.Articulación con el Observatorio Interamericano de Drogas (OID) de la Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (CICAD-OEA).
Aterrizaje multipaís y nacional
Lanzamiento de 22 acciones nacionales de fortalecimiento de OND con metas previstas y rutas de acompañamiento
Communication
Implementing partners
