Israel and the EU will share information on drugs more systematically in the future, thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed today in Jerusalem between the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and the Israel Anti-Drug Authority (IADA). The agreement was signed at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs by EMCDDA Director Wolfgang Götz and IADA Director-General Yair Geller.

Israel had submitted a formal request for cooperation with the EMCDDA in 2012. This was given a green light from the EMCDDA Management Board in December of 2012 for the agency to negotiate the MoU with IADA. .

This accord, signed for an initial period of five years and sealing cooperation between the two bodies, will be implemented through a joint work program to be updated every three years. The work program will include steps to enhance monitoring and knowledge base on the drugs situation and responses to it, particularly through harmonizing key indicators in the areas of supply and demand.

Special attention will be given to the regular exchange of information on the use of new psychotropic substances, as well as the technologies employed in their production.

The agreement provides for an exchange of technical expertise and knowledge between the two bodies, the co-sponsoring of technical meetings and the pooling of human and financial resources to launch joint programs.

This cooperation takes place within the EMCDDA’s mandate for cooperation with third countries in consultation with its Management Board and the European Commission. The MoU is based on the 1995 Euro–Mediterranean Agreement and the 2005 EU–Israel Action Plan, the latter establishing the general framework of EU–Israel bilateral relations.