On 27 March 2025, Europol and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) published their latest study on the European market for MDMA (ecstasy), covering aspects from production and trafficking to distribution and use. The report - a comprehensive threat assessment - also details the processes, materials, and criminal actors involved at different stages and levels of the market and defines recommendations for action at EU and Member State level.

According to the study, the EU is central to the global synthetic drugs landscape, with production in the EU serving both domestic and international markets. Around 12.3 million Europeans (aged 15–64) have used MDMA at least once in their lifetime, while an estimated 20 million people used MDMA worldwide in 2022. The European retail market for MDMA is estimated to be worth at least €594 million annually, corresponding to the consumption of around 72.4 million ecstasy tablets within the EU.

MDMA production is concentrated mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium. Dutch criminal networks play a significant role in the MDMA market, both within and outside the European Union. Europe’s MDMA market has a global reach, supplying Oceania, Asia, and also Latin America.

In order to address the challenges associated with MDMA, the report identifies two key priorities:

• Improving intelligence on MDMA trafficking within Europe and to external markets;
• Reducing MDMA production and distribution.

Achieving these aims will require enhanced collaboration between EU Member States, international partners, and other key stakeholders, focusing on the exchange of operational and strategic information. In addition, increasing the availability of prevention, harm reduction, and treatment programmes will be essential to mitigate the harmful impact of MDMA on public health.