Commissioner Pavel Bém addressed the Committee on Public Health (SANT) of the European Parliament, contributing to discussions on the future EU Drug Strategy (2026–2030), drug policy reform in EU candidate countries, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on mental health and substance use. The intervention was supported by Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, Member of the European Parliament and Commissioner with the Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD).

Speaking on behalf of the ECECACD, Commissioner Bém emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced approach in the future EU Drug Strategy, ensuring that public health, prevention, treatment, and harm reduction are addressed alongside security and law enforcement measures. He also highlighted the EU accession processes as an opportunity to strengthen evidence-based and human rights-centered drug policies in candidate countries.

The discussion further examined the effects of war-related trauma on mental health and drug use in Ukraine, underscoring the need for long-term support and resilient health systems. During the meeting, Commissioner Bém presented the ECECACD position paper, “Accession to the EU: A Paradigm Change Towards Health-Based Drug Policy” which outlines recommendations for integrating public health considerations into EU enlargement and drug policy frameworks.

The paper was published on the European Parliament SANT Committee website as a contribution to the Committee’s exchange of views on “The Missing Public Health Dimension in Drug Policy Reforms in Candidate Countries Within the EU Accession Process”.