On 4 December 2025, the European Commission presented a new EU Drugs Strategy together with an Action Plan against drug trafficking and a proposal to revise the rules on drug precursors. The initiatives form part of the ProtectEU – European Internal Security Strategy (→eucrim 1/2025, 3-4) and set out a comprehensive response to the security, health, social, and environmental challenges linked to illicit drugs.

The new EU Drugs Strategy is structured around five priority areas:

• Strengthen preparedness and threat response through improved data collection, monitoring, and early warning systems, with a reinforced role for the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA);
• Enhance public health protection by supporting prevention, treatment, and reintegration measures;
• Advance security-oriented measures, including upcoming proposals to tighten rules against organised crime and an evaluation of the Framework Decision on drug trafficking by 2026; other measures in this pillar include strengthening public-private cooperation to improve the detection of drugs in postal and parcel services as well as the development of a new EU Ports Strategy;
• Prevent drug-related harm, with a focus on measures to protect young people from recruitment into organised crime;
• Build stronger partnerships to address the drug situation, in particular by reinforcing and expanding international alliances with third countries and regions.

The accompanying EU Action Plan against drug trafficking has translated these objectives into operational measures across six areas, including:

• Adapting to evolving trafficking routes and modi operandi used by criminal networks;
• Preventing crime and drug-related violence;
• Enhancing cooperation between law enforcement and judicial and customs authorities, with Europol at the centre of supporting drug trafficking online;
• Tackling synthetic drugs and precursors;
• Promoting research and innovation, with a new Security and Innovation Campus to be launched in 2026;
• Strengthening international cooperation, in particular by joint investigations between the law enforcement authorities of EU Member States and partner third countries, and fostering ports resilience.

In parallel, the Commission proposed updated rules on drug precursors and so-called designer precursors. The proposal for a respective Regulation (COM(2026) 747 final) introduces real-time reporting of significant seizures, faster procedures to control emerging substances, and a ban on certain designer precursors. It also aims to simplify and digitalise procedures for legitimate operators to reduce administrative burdens. The proposal will replace existing EU regulations on precursor trade and forms a key part of the EU Drugs Strategy, enhancing law enforcement and customs capacities to disrupt drug production networks.

When presenting the new EU Drugs Strategy, Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration said: "[T]his integrated European response focused on readiness and prevention aims to deliver sustainable solutions crucial to protect our social fabric and set global standards for our partners."