On Thursday, December 4th, the European Commission unveiled a new plan to combat drug trafficking and to alert member states more quickly about new psychotropic substances circulating on the continent.
The issue has returned to the spotlight following a series of incidents, including the murder in France of the brother of an activist involved in combating the drugs trade.
EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said:
The EU will not tolerate criminal networks flooding our streets with cheap drugs, fuelling violent crime, and undermining health and security in Europe.
The Commission also wants to task the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) with identifying new psychotropic substances in Europe and issuing rapid alerts to member states about their spread.
According to the agency, synthetic products derived from cannabis, opioids, and cathinones are gaining ground in Europe, but cocaine remains by far the most widely consumed illicit stimulant on the continent, used by some 4.6 million people aged 15 to 64 in 2024.
