On December 4th, 2025, the EU Commission presented its EU Drug Strategy accompanied with an Action Plan against drug trafficking.
The Strategy and Action Plan are part of the European Internal Security Strategy and ProtectEU and provide a framework for the EU to respond to challenges linked to the trafficking and use of illicit drugs, focussing on security, health, social and environmental challenges.
To tackle this multi-faceted problem, the EU Drugs Strategy departs from a holistic and “whole-of-society” approach, focussing on 5 key areas:
- Enhancing preparedness and response to drug related threats. For example, through data collection and monitoring at EU and national level;
- Protecting public health through a focus on prevention, treatment and reintegration of drug users;
- Strengthening security. Public-private partnerships play a key role in this respect whereas the upcoming EU Ports Strategy will aim at strengthening the security and resilience of ports and supply chains against drug trafficking;
- Measures to prevent drug-related harm, especially focussing on crime prevention through measures aimed at protection young people from recruitment into organised crime;
- Stronger partnerships by expanding operational cooperation with third countries while focussing on capacity building. The private sector and civil society will play a key role in this respect and the Commission and Member States will therefore step up their engagement.
The EU Action Plan against drug trafficking complements the Strategy with 19 actions across six priority areas. Key actions focus on topics ranging from improved cooperation between law enforcement and customs to the deployment of innovative detection technologies.
