Global Commission Chair Helen Clark and Global Commissioner and  Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD) Chair Aleksander Kwaśniewski co-authored a joint op-ed addressing the European Commission’s proposed new drugs package, highlighting the risks of shifting toward a predominantly security-driven approach. The piece emphasizes the dangers of prioritizing enforcement over evidence-based, health-focused policies, and highlights Europe’s leadership in promoting harm reduction, reducing HIV transmission among people who use drugs, and advancing treatment and social support over punitive measures.

The co-authored op-ed calls on EU Member States and the European Parliament to take decisive action to preserve Europe’s evidence-based and human-rights-centered approach to drug policy. Specifically, it recommends:

• Safeguarding Europe’s legacy in drug policy by strengthening harm reduction, treatment, and early intervention programs;
• Ensuring adequate, sustained funding for health-focused and community-based responses;
• Maintaining alignment with international human rights and public health standards in all policy decisions;
• Rejecting punitive approaches that criminalize personal drug use;
• Expanding harm reduction services across all Member States;
• Investing in supportive housing, early intervention, and community-level care; and
• Allowing Member States to explore innovative approaches, including regulated alternatives, to respond effectively to evolving drug-related challenges.

The full co-authored op-ed is available to read here.