Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The EU and its Member States would like to commend you, Mr Chair and the Secretariat of the CND for the excellent organisation of the two thematic sessions to take stock of the implementation of all international drug policy commitments.

We believe that this has been a useful exercise to share insights on the progress made and our best practices, and to reflect on how we could do more. We now look forward to working together on the concise, action-oriented document that will take stock of the work done so far and that will hopefully help to focus our efforts and accelerate, where needed, the implementation of existing drug policy commitments, in particular the 2016 UNGASS Outcome Document, up until the review in 2029.

In our view, the outcome document should focus on the existing commitments and suggest how they would continue to be addressed until 2029. The outcome document and any actions therein should reflect the evidence-based, integrated, balanced and multidisciplinary approach. The outcome document should indicate the need for UN Members States to comply with their obligations under international human rights law in the design and implementation of drug policies, since, as stated by the INCB[1], an essential condition for the implementation of the three international drug control conventions by States parties is respect for human rights. The adoption and application of drug control measures occurs in a broader context in which States have concurrent legal obligations, including those stemming from human rights instruments, ranging from promotion of equality and non-discrimination towards people who use drugs, prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to a fair trial, to protection against all forms of cruel and inhuman punishment. The outcome document should also take stock of what has worked and what has not. With drug supply and drug demand being at an all-time high, we must also be prepared to adjust our approaches where needed in compliance with the international drug Conventions.

We should continue to work in an inclusive, transparent and open manner, ensuring the effective and meaningful participation from a wide range of participants, including international or regional organisations, all relevant UN entities, including human rights bodies, the academic and scientific community, civil society, and, where appropriate, the private sector. It should confirm the need to strengthen inter-agency cooperation to enhance coherence within the United Nations system with regard the world drug situation, in line with the UN Common Position. We appreciate the positive examples of such cooperation, such as the joint UNODC-WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care or the reports of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights addressing drug-related topics. We should pursue and strengthen such cooperation in the future.

The outcome document should also contribute to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030, including development-oriented drug policies and alternative development measures. These should continue to guide the development of international drug policy, as the efforts to achieve the SDGs and to effectively address and counter the world drug situation are complementary and mutually reinforcing.

Finally, the outcome document should decide on a new multi-annual workplan to organise further intersessional meetings to keep track of the implementation of international drug policy commitments and actions defined in the outcome document in the period between 2024 and 2029. The intersessional meetings should continue to be organised in an inclusive, transparent and comprehensive manner, so that all the relevant stakeholders can bring their valuable contribution to the debates.

The EU will continue to support you, Mr Chair, and the future Chair of the CND and your team in the endeavour to achieve a meaningful outcome of the mid-term review.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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[1] https://www.incb.org/incb/en/news/news_2022/statement-by-the-incb-president-on-the-occasion-of-human-rights-day--10-december-2022.html