EUAM Iraq organised a study trip for Iraqi partners to the Netherlands on combating narcotics

EUAM Iraq accompanied high-level officials responsible for designing, leading and implementing the Iraqi anti-narcotics strategy to a study trip to The Netherlands. The visit aimed to further increase the effectiveness and sustainability of Iraqi-led efforts in managing challenges related to narcotics. The trip should also be seen against the background that the Iraqi government has recently placed drug-related challenges at the top of the political agenda. The primary interlocutor of the Mission in this area is the Iraqi Directorate of Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (DANPS).

Important exchanges on strategies to combat drugs with key organisations 

Supporting the implementation of the Iraqi National Strategy for combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, the visit involved exchanges with key bodies based in The Netherlands. Among those were the Dutch Police Academy, the National Forensic Institute of the Police, the Regional Centre of Information and Expertise (regarding combatting organised crime), Europol and the Trimbos Institute. The latter is an organisation with vast experience in the scientifically-proven successful balanced approach in dealing with challenges related to drugs. Building on the knowledge previously provided, the Iraqi officials presented to their Dutch counterparts an assessment of the current situation in their home country on the topics presented during the various webinars.  

The study trip represents the culmination of 7 in-person webinars in Baghdad

“The study trip is the culmination of a series of seven in-person workshops and webinars that took place in Baghdad during the last months. Each was dedicated to Iraqi strategy-related thematic of addressing challenges resulting from drugs”, said the Strategic Adviser on organised crime/anti-drugs of EUAM Iraq. The visit will be complemented by further activities in Iraq to discuss how best to tailor and apply the knowledge obtained to the Iraqi context. In line with its mandate, EUAM Iraq advises senior government officials on activities related to the development and implementation of the National Security Strategy (NSS) and underlying strategies such as the National Strategy for combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances.