The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA): first steps
On 2 July 2024, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) officially became the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). We're excited about this change and the many opportunities it brings.
We will update this page regularly to share information, updates, photos and more on the main activities being organised as we take our first steps as the EUDA.
EUDA – day 4
5 July 2024
Following the EUDA’s first Management Board meeting, we ended our busy week with another first.
On the morning of 5 July, we held the EUDA’s inaugural geostrategic discussion on ‘Emerging drug trends – what are the issues and how can we strengthen preparedness?’.
Around the table were EUDA Board members and senior management, representatives from partner countries, Executive Directors of EU Agencies and representatives of international organisations and civil society. Several countries presented case studies of the current challenges they face. The exchanges were rich and instructive.
We will hold more such debates in the future, to enrich our understanding and expertise.
What a week! The EUDA is now officially present and active on the world stage.
We haven’t forgotten everything the EMCDDA achieved, but now the EUDA must start writing its own story...
EUDA – day 3
4 July 2024
EUDA manifesto
Do you want to know more about the European Union Drugs Agency’s goals?
We have prepared a statement of intent, or 'manifesto', to inspire, motivate, and connect the agency with its customers.
Read the full text of our manifesto
Management Board meeting
We ended the day yesterday with an EUDA staff event. This was the opportunity to unwind and reconnect after several months spent brainstorming, discussing, preparing and creating the new agency.
Today, the constituent meeting of the EUDA Management Board takes place. The busy agenda includes nominating the Board members and alternates, adopting rules and procedures, and presentations and discussions on a range of topics linked to the agency’s operations.
EUDA – day 2
3 July 2024
Four EUDA service categories
Note our smart EUDA cube on the square outside our offices! Each side of the cube is dedicated to one of our four main areas for action:
1. Anticipate future drug-related challenges and their consequences
2. Alert in real time on new drug risks and threats to health and security
3. Help the EU and its Member States strengthen their responses to the drug phenomenon
4. Facilitate EU-wide knowledge exchange and learning for evidence-based policies and interventions.
Inauguration events
Today we officially launched the EUDA on the world stage. A busy day, filled with emotions. And very hot!
We started the morning with a press conference in our offices (also streamed live online) with the active involvement of the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and other dignitaries, including Portuguese Secretary of State for Health, Ana Povo.
Commissioner Johansson kindly spent most of the morning with us, unveiling our new name plaque by the entrance to our building, with Executive Director Goosdeel. After thanking the EUDA staff for their hard work and sharing encouraging words on the future of the agency, she took part in an unusual photo session and witnessed the first raising of the new EUDA flag. It now proudly floats by the Tagus river, for everyone in Lisbon to see!
We also had our first official EUDA signing ceremony for a working arrangement in the morning, between Executive Director Alexis Goosdeel and H.E. Ambassador Xavier Aliaga Sancho, Ambassador of Ecuador to the European Union.
Video of the inauguration
Photos from this morning's event
Today we will officially inaugurate the EUDA! To follow the press conference live from 10 am CEST (Lisbon). More details about the day's events will be published here later.
Watch the event live
The inauguration will be live-streamed starting 10am (Lisbon).
Born today — the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA)
2 July 2024
As part of our transformation into the European Union Drugs Agency, or EUDA, work started a few days ago to rebrand our offices. Local companies took down the EMCDDA signage and other branded visuals and put the EUDA's in their place.
The EUDA logo and colour scheme now brighten our corridors, and the energy is tangible.
A marquee has been erected in our patio area to house tomorrow’s press conference when we will officially launch the EUDA. We are ready to welcome Commissioner Johansson and guests. The new name plaque outside our entrance, flags, and other personalised installations (more about those tomorrow!) are all ready to be unveiled.
And today, our website, social media channels, email signatures etc. all started working. With no major hiccups!
It’s really nice to see our new logo everywhere, with its bright, positive and fresh feel. Welcome to the EUDA!
EUDA logo
Do you like our new logo? Wonder what it means?
The shapes in the logo are simplified versions of the four letters from our acronym: E-U-D-A. The white stars come from the European Union symbol. And the bright colours represent our new identity and the EUDA's personality.
Programme of events
10.00, 2 July 2024
You can find below a programme of events for the coming week.
- 2 July: Launch of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA)
- 3 July: Official opening
- The official EUDA launch ceremony takes place on 3 July, in the presence of European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson.
- Working Arrangement with Ecuador: In the margins of the event, the EUDA will sign a Working Arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador, designed to enhance cooperation in addressing drug-related challenges.
- 4-5 July: Meeting of the EUDA Management Board