From 27–30 October, Commissioners of the Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD) carried out a country visit to Montenegro to discuss ongoing drug policy reforms in the context of the country’s EU accession process.

The delegation included ECECACD Chair Aleksander Kwaśniewski, alongside Commissioners Michel Kazatchkine, Pavel Bém and Volodymyr Tymoshenko — three of whom also serve as members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP).

During high-level meetings with government representatives, parliamentarians, UN agencies and civil society organizations, the ECECACD welcomed Montenegro’s efforts to improve its drug policy and align it with European standards. The delegation encouraged continued progress towards health- and evidence-based approaches, including the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use, the abolition of compulsory treatment, and the establishment of sustainable national funding for harm reduction services as international support is phased out.

The ECECACD also underlined the importance of inter-ministerial coordination and meaningful engagement with civil society and communities directly affected by drug policies, and expressed its readiness to continue supporting Montenegro in advancing comprehensive and balanced drug policies in line with EU standards and international best practices.