Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset Calls for People-Centred Drug Policies to Safeguard Democratic Security

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has urged European nations to adopt people-centred drug policies that unite law enforcement, early prevention, and social recovery. Speaking at the European Coalition Against Drugs meeting in Italy, Berset warned that drug trafficking directly threatens democratic security by undermining public trust in state institutions. He emphasized that effective national drug strategies must prioritize human dignity, law enforcement firmness, and comprehensive victim reintegration.

RMN News Council of Europe Desk
New Delhi | October 24, 2026

People-Centred Drug Policies Essential for European Democratic Security

SAN PATRIGNANO, Italy — Addressing international leaders and policymakers at the High-level International Meeting of the European Coalition Against Drugs (ECAD), Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset called for a unified, human-centred approach to combat drug trafficking and substance addiction across the continent.

Speaking at the San Patrignano Community in Coriano, Italy, Berset stressed that while specific national tactics vary, all effective drug frameworks must share a common foundation rooted in public health, safety, and human dignity.

Democratic Security and the Threat of Organized Crime

In his address, Secretary General Berset framed the fight against illegal narcotics as a core component of democratic security. Organized crime networks, he cautioned, seek to erode democratic governance not through direct conflict, but by destabilizing public confidence in state institutions.

Democratic security represents the intersection where law enforcement, early intervention, and long-term rehabilitation align. Urging governments and international coalitions to accelerate joint operational responses, Berset noted that criminal networks profit when institutional responses lag behind emerging threats.

A Three-Pillar Approach: Enforcement, Prevention, and Recovery

The Council of Europe’s strategic framework relies on its established legal ecosystem, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. Secretary General Berset outlined a practical three-pillar model:

1. Firm Law Enforcement: Target high-level traffickers and seize illicit assets. Berset highlighted European Court of Human Rights case law regarding maritime ship interceptions, which helps guide police and prosecutors across member states. Furthermore, he referenced the new Additional Protocol to the Warsaw Convention, opened for signature on October 14, designed to strengthen state powers to confiscate criminal proceeds and reallocate funds toward addiction recovery programs.
2. Early Intervention and Prevention: Identify health and digital risks before they escalate. The Council of Europe works alongside national observatories to detect emerging synthetic drugs and is developing practical resources for educators, social workers, and parents, alongside national policy guidance on managing online addictions.
3. People-Centred Recovery: Focus on social reintegration as a societal responsibility. Effective addiction policies prioritize personal potential, treating medical intervention as an entry point followed by essential access to housing, education, and employment under the principles of the European Social Charter.

High-Level European Collaboration

The international assembly was opened by Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. Key participants in the introductory sessions included Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, French Minister with responsibility for Citizenship; Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Irish Minister of State representing the EU Council Presidency; and Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration.

During the event, Berset conducted an onsite visit to the San Patrignano rehabilitation community, an organization providing specialized guidance to individuals recovering from drug dependency and social marginalization.

The Council of Europe has been an active member of the European Coalition Against Drugs since its launch by France and Italy during the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen in 2025. The high-level conference concluded with the formal adoption of the European Coalition Against Drugs Final Declaration.