Irish Sentinel

FAO forecasts drop in global cereal output and trade

irishsentinel.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:48:32 +0000

ROME / EuroWire / — Global cereal production and trade are projected to decline in the year ahead, as early forecasts point to lower harvests across all major cereals after a record 2025 season, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said in its latest market assessment. The Rome-based agency placed 2026/27 world cereal output at 2.982 billion tonnes, including rice in milled equivalent. That would mark a 2.0 percent fall from the prior year.

Global cereal stocks remain comfortable despite lower output and trade projections.

The expected decline follows a strong 2025 harvest. Global cereal production reached an estimated 3.043 billion tonnes in 2025, up 6.1 percent from 2024. The increase reflected sharp gains across major crops, with maize showing notable growth. World cereal use also rose in the 2025/26 season. It reached 2.952 billion tonnes, up 2.7 percent from the previous season, led by higher use of coarse grains and rice.

The new forecast shows lower output for wheat, maize, barley, rice and other major cereals in 2026/27. Wheat faces the largest percentage decline among the main cereal groups. Maize and barley show the smallest expected drops. The figures place the global cereal market below last year’s peak, while still near high recent levels. Cereal market updates remain central to food security tracking, trade planning and agricultural price monitoring.

Stocks remain comfortable

World cereal utilization is forecast to increase by 0.6 percent in 2026/27 to 2.969 billion tonnes. Food consumption of cereals is expected to rise by 1.0 percent from 2025/26. Feed use is forecast to grow by 0.5 percent, with gains for maize and barley. Feed demand for wheat and rice is expected to decline. Other cereal uses are forecast to ease by 0.2 percent, mainly due to lower wheat and barley use.

World cereal stocks are forecast to slip by 0.3 percent to 949.0 million tonnes by the end of seasons in 2026. Lower rice and sorghum inventories account for most of the expected decrease. Wheat and barley stocks are forecast to rebuild. The global cereal stock-to-use ratio is expected to stay close to the 2025/26 level at 31.7 percent. FAO described overall cereal stocks as comfortable under current supply and demand forecasts.

Trade outlook turns lower

Global cereal trade is projected to fall by 0.3 percent in 2026/27 to 507.2 million tonnes. The forecast follows a 4.8 percent expansion in 2025/26, when trade reached 508.6 million tonnes. Lower wheat and barley shipments account for most of the expected decline. Maize trade is projected to rise by 3.9 percent. Rice trade is forecast to increase by 1.4 percent, partly offsetting weaker flows in other cereal markets.

The cereal outlook came as global food commodity prices stayed broadly stable in May. The food price index averaged 130.8 points, down 0.2 percent from April and 2.9 percent above its level a year earlier. Cereal prices rose 2.6 percent from April and stood nearly 5.0 percent higher than a year earlier. Wheat, maize and rice quotations increased, while vegetable oil prices fell and sugar prices rose.

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Russian IT sector revenue reaches $38.94 billion in Q1

irishsentinel.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:32:32 +0000

MOSCOW, RUSSIA / EuroWire / — Russia’s information technology sector recorded 2.8654 trillion rubles in revenue from goods and services in the first quarter of 2026, equal to about $38.94 billion. The figure marked an 8 percent increase from the same period in 2025. ANO Digital Economy released the quarterly monitoring results on June 6. The data covered accredited Russian IT companies listed in the official register for information technology activity.

Accredited Russian IT companies reported rising sales and jobs in Q1 2026.

The report showed growth across core measures of the Russian IT sector. Gross value added reached 1.9565 trillion rubles in the January to March period. That was 4 percent higher than a year earlier. Revenue from companies’ own goods, work and services rose at a faster pace. It totaled 2.2688 trillion rubles, up 21 percent from the first quarter of 2025.

The share of own products and services also increased. It reached 79.2 percent of total IT sector revenue in the first quarter. The level stood at 70.5 percent in the same period last year. The change showed a larger role for domestic development and services in the sector’s revenue mix. The monitoring covers companies accredited by the Russian Digital Development Ministry.

Own products lift sector revenue

Fiscal indicators also increased during the quarter. Taxes and insurance contributions paid by IT sector organizations reached 619.1 billion rubles. That was 17 percent above the first quarter of 2025. The pace exceeded the 11 percent growth recorded for organizations overall. IT companies also increased their share of tax receipts measured without fees and excise taxes.

The sector’s share of that tax base rose to 5.2 percent in the first quarter. It was 5.0 percent a year earlier. Employment also expanded in the Russian IT sector. The number of workers reached 1.8654 million people, a 16 percent increase from the first quarter of 2025. The sector accounted for 3.8 percent of total employment during the period.

Employment and research spending rise

The monitoring also tracked spending on research and development. IT companies reported 282.0 million rubles in such expenses in the first quarter. That was 10 percent higher than a year earlier. The increase followed a decline of 33 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. The first quarter data placed research and development spending back in positive annual territory.

ANO Digital Economy said the monitoring uses a method based on the register of accredited IT companies. That approach defines the sector by official accreditation status. The report forms part of quarterly tracking of key Russian IT industry indicators. The latest figures show higher revenue, employment, tax payments, value added and own product sales in the first three months of 2026.

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Austria downgrade ends last triple A sovereign rating

irishsentinel.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:20:14 +0000

AUSTRIA / EuroWire / — Austria lost its last top sovereign credit rating after Morningstar DBRS downgraded the country to AA (high) from AAA, ending its remaining triple A assessment among major agencies. The rating agency changed the trend to stable. It also confirmed Austria’s short term foreign and local currency issuer ratings at R-1 (high). The action puts Austria outside the highest sovereign rating tier.

Austria lost its last AAA rating after DBRS cited deficits and weaker debt metrics.

Morningstar DBRS cited weaker debt metrics and high budget deficits in its rating action. It said Austria’s fiscal position has deteriorated since the pandemic. Public spending remains above earlier levels, while interest costs have risen. The downgrade applies to both long term foreign currency and local currency issuer ratings. Austria remains in a high credit grade category, despite losing the top rating.

The cut follows earlier moves by other rating agencies. S&P Global Ratings has Austria at AA+ with a stable outlook. Fitch Ratings downgraded Austria to AA in June 2025. Moody’s Ratings has Austria at Aa1 with a negative outlook. Scope Ratings affirmed Austria at AA+ in 2025 and changed its outlook to negative. Morningstar DBRS had been the final top tier rating.

Fiscal pressure drives downgrade

Austria’s fiscal data has remained under close review. The European Commission’s spring 2026 forecast put the general government deficit at 4.2% of GDP in 2025. It projected deficits of 4.1% in both 2026 and 2027. The same forecast put gross public debt at 81.5% of GDP in 2025, rising to 83.4% in 2026 and 84.9% in 2027.

Austria also faces European Union budget scrutiny. The Council of the European Union opened an excessive deficit procedure for Austria in July 2025. The decision followed a 4.7% budget deficit in 2024. EU fiscal rules set a 3% of GDP reference value for deficits. The Council recommended a path for Austria to end the excessive deficit by 2028.

Debt path remains central

The Federal Ministry of Finance has said Austria’s 2026 general government deficit remains expected at 4.2% of GDP. It said the 2025 deficit came in at 4.2%, better than the 4.5% level expected when the double budget was prepared. The ministry said strict budget execution and consolidation measures supported the result. It also cited risks from a weaker economic outlook.

Austria’s economy returned to growth in 2025, with real GDP expanding 0.6%. The European Commission expects the same growth rate in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027. Inflation remains part of the fiscal backdrop. The forecast put inflation at 3.6% in 2025, 3.0% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027. The downgrade keeps attention on Austria’s sovereign credit rating, budget deficit and public debt.

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Putin says BRICS holds 40 percent of global GDP

irishsentinel.com — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:34:47 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA / EuroWire / — Russian President Vladimir Putin said BRICS accounts for about 40% of global gross domestic product when measured by purchasing power parity. He made the remarks at the plenary session of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Putin said the figure shows the rising weight of emerging economies in global output, trade and investment.

BRICS economic data highlights shifts in global GDP and trade measurement. (Credit – WAM)

Putin said BRICS countries produced 49% of annual global GDP growth over the past five years. He compared that with an 18% contribution from the Group of Seven economies. He also said BRICS growth rates exceed those of the G7. The remarks placed BRICS at the center of his address on changes in global economic activity.

The BRICS grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has received an invitation to join. The bloc brings together major energy producers, large consumer markets and several fast growing economies. Its members also account for more than 40% of the world’s population.

BRICS trade expands

Putin said BRICS has more than doubled its share of global merchandise trade since its creation. He said member states accounted for almost a quarter of global exports last year. Intra-BRICS trade has already exceeded $1 trillion, he added. He said business interest follows markets with stronger development and broader sales prospects.

The Russian president also cited growth in technology exports among BRICS members. He said the countries now hold more than one third of global high-tech exports. Putin pointed to China’s role in artificial intelligence patents and India’s role in software. He also said Russia has strengths in digital services, online platforms and nuclear energy technology.

SPIEF hosts economic talks

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum runs from June 3 to June 6 under the theme “Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future.” Saudi Arabia is the guest country at this year’s forum. The program includes sessions on small business, creative industries, youth economic issues and drug security. The Roscongress Foundation organizes the annual event.

The International Monetary Fund data published for 2025 also placed BRICS near 40% of global GDP on a purchasing power parity basis. The same data put the G7 share at less than 29%. Putin’s comments matched that measure, which adjusts output for price differences across countries. The comparison differs from nominal GDP, where advanced economies retain a larger combined share.

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EU disburses €12.8 billion to Italy under recovery plan

irishsentinel.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:14:37 +0000

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / EuroWire / — The European Commission has disbursed €12.8 billion to Italy under NextGenerationEU, advancing the country’s recovery and resilience plan after a positive assessment of completed commitments. The payment marks Italy’s ninth instalment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It also represents the ninth and penultimate payment linked to Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which channels EU support into reforms and investment.

Italy’s ninth recovery payment advances public services, jobs and economic resilience.

Italy submitted its ninth payment request on December 30, 2025. The Commission gave a positive preliminary assessment on April 29, 2026. The disbursement followed the completion of 50 objectives, according to official EU and Italian government information. These covered 36 milestones and targets for grants and 14 milestones and targets for loans.

The latest payment takes Italy to about 85% of the funds allocated under its recovery plan. The plan has a value of €194.4 billion, including €71.8 billion in grants and €122.6 billion in loans. The Recovery and Resilience Facility links payments to verified progress rather than spending alone. Member states receive funds after they meet agreed milestones and targets.

Funding tied to completed objectives

The ninth instalment covers reforms and investments across several public policy areas. They include public administration, justice, taxation, public procurement, education, employment, healthcare, tourism, culture, energy and sustainable mobility. The measures also include action on undeclared work, research, agriculture and the circular economy. EU assessments said Italy maintained earlier reforms linked to previous payment requests.

The completed steps include digital work in the justice system and public administration. They also include measures on late payments by public bodies, tax evasion and competition policy. Italy reported progress on labour market programmes and vocational training. Other targets covered clean vehicles for the National Fire Brigade, historic parks and gardens, and digital tools for healthcare.

Plan supports reform and investment

Italy’s recovery plan ranks among the largest national programmes funded through NextGenerationEU. The Council of the European Union approved the original plan in July 2021. Italy later updated it, including through a REPowerEU chapter, to add energy measures. The full plan includes 150 investment streams and 66 reforms. It directs 39% of funding toward climate objectives and 25.6% toward digital transition.

The programme forms part of the EU post-pandemic recovery framework. Its funds support projects meant to strengthen resilience, competitiveness and public services. Italy must complete remaining milestones and targets within the timetable set by the EU framework. The ninth payment keeps the country near the end of its agreed funding path, with one further instalment remaining under the plan.

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OECD inflation rises to 4.4% as energy costs climb

irishsentinel.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:52:47 +0000

PARIS, FRANCE / EuroWire / — Headline inflation across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development rose to 4.4 percent in April 2026 from 4.0 percent in March, as higher energy prices lifted consumer price growth across many advanced economies. The increase, measured by the Consumer Price Index, marked a broad rise in annual inflation across the OECD area. Headline inflation increased in 23 member countries, remained broadly stable in six, and declined in nine.

April consumer price data showed energy costs lifting inflation across OECD economies.

The largest increases, at 1.0 percentage point or more, came in Belgium, Chile, Greece, Italy and Türkiye. Sweden recorded the largest decline, with inflation falling by 0.6 percentage point. Lower food prices in Sweden more than offset the rise in energy prices. The April data showed a wider split among national inflation paths, even as energy costs rose in most countries with available data.

Energy inflation across the OECD reached 13.2 percent in April, up 5.1 percentage points from March. Food inflation also increased, rising 0.4 percentage point to 4.0 percent. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, stayed broadly stable at 3.6 percent. Energy inflation increased in 31 of the 37 member countries with available data. It remained negative in Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Iceland and Japan.

Energy costs drive the April increase

In the Group of Seven economies, annual headline inflation rose to 3.2 percent in April from 2.8 percent in March. The United States recorded the highest G7 inflation rate at 3.8 percent, its highest level since May 2023. Inflation also rose in Canada, France, Germany and Italy to levels last seen in 2023 or 2024. In the United Kingdom, core inflation fell to 2.8 percent, its lowest level since September 2021.

G7 energy inflation reached 13.6 percent in April. Canada, France, Germany and the United States each recorded double digit energy inflation. In Canada, the rate partly reflected a base effect from the removal of the consumer carbon price on April 1, 2025. Core inflation remained the main contributor to headline inflation in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, the three G7 economies with the highest inflation rates.

Euro area and G20 rates rise

In the euro area, annual inflation measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices increased to 3.1 percent in April from 2.6 percent in March. Energy inflation rose to 10.8 percent, its highest level since February 2023. Core inflation and food inflation in the currency bloc remained broadly stable at 2.2 percent. Eurostat’s flash estimate placed euro area headline inflation at 3.2 percent in May and energy inflation at 10.9 percent.

Across the G20, annual headline inflation increased to 4.3 percent in April from 4.0 percent in March. Inflation rose in Brazil, China, India and South Africa. It fell by 1.1 percentage points in Indonesia and also declined in Argentina. Saudi Arabia’s rate remained broadly stable. The April figures showed energy prices as the main source of upward pressure, while food inflation rose and core inflation held steady across the OECD area.

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OECD sees steel excess capacity hitting 745 million tonnes

irishsentinel.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:45:21 +0000

PARIS, FRANCE / EuroWire / — Global steel excess capacity is projected to reach 745 million tonnes by 2028, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The figure would exceed current production across member countries by 319 million tonnes. The projection appears in the Steel Outlook 2026, released in Paris on June 4. It places overcapacity near levels seen during the last major steel crisis.

Steel sector data shows capacity additions outpacing demand in major markets.

OECD estimated excess capacity at 640 million tonnes in 2025. The report says planned additions could reach 138.8 million tonnes through 2028. That would lift global steelmaking capacity by 5.7 percent from 2025 levels. It also says demand will grow by only 34 million tonnes during the 2026 to 2028 period.

Steel demand remains weak across many large markets. The report projects global demand growth of about 0.9 percent a year through 2030. Capacity use stood at 76 percent in 2025 and could fall to 74 percent or less by 2028. Lower use rates reduce output efficiency and add financial strain for mills, workers and suppliers.

Capacity growth outpaces demand

Most capacity growth over the past two decades took place outside member economies. The report links that expansion to subsidies and other state interventions in several steel producing markets. It says the median Chinese steel firm received 15 times more subsidies in 2024, relative to assets, than the median producer elsewhere. The report also says China has begun adding capacity again after several years of limited expansion.

Chinese steelmakers exported a record 131 million tonnes in 2025. The volume equaled about 14 percent of China’s crude steel output that year. It also marked a 153 percent jump from 2020. China has up to 38.6 million tonnes of new capacity planned through 2028, the largest national addition listed in the outlook.

Trade measures increase

India added 41.4 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity between 2021 and 2025. The report lists another 31.8 million tonnes of planned additions by 2028. Strong domestic demand has kept India a modest net importer. In contrast, capacity in member economies fell by 2.8 million tonnes from 2021 to 2025, with sharper declines in the United Kingdom and Japan.

Trade actions increased in 2025 as governments responded to steel import surges. The report counts nearly 400 active antidumping and countervailing duty measures that began in 2016 or later. It also lists 75 new investigations opened in 2025, slightly below 2024 but still high by recent standards. Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico and the United States raised tariffs on many basic steel products.

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SIS queries climb to 17.76 billion across Europe in 2025

irishsentinel.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:04:26 +0000

TALLINN, ESTONIA / EuroWire / — The Schengen Information System (SIS) processed 17,763,405,971 searches in 2025, an 18% increase from 2024, according to annual statistics published by eu-LISA. The total equaled almost 49 million searches per day and more than 2 million per hour across countries and EU agencies connected to the system. The figure places SIS among Europe’s most heavily used digital platforms for border checks, law enforcement cooperation and security-related information sharing.

Schengen Information System data highlights record search volumes across connected authorities. (Credit – WAM)

The SIS is used by authorities to consult and enter alerts on wanted or missing persons, return decisions, refused entry or stay, and objects such as vehicles, documents and licence plates. eu-LISA said 94,605,202 alerts were stored in SIS as of Dec. 31, 2025, up 2% from the end of 2024. The total included 92,615,164 alerts on objects and 1,990,038 alerts on persons, including unknown persons.

Overall access to SIS reached 17,786,377,248 instances in 2025. That total included the 17.76 billion searches and 22,971,277 operations to create, update, delete or otherwise manage alerts. Alphanumeric searches accounted for 99.93% of all searches, totaling 17,750,291,535, while biometric searches represented 0.07% of the total. Countries using SIS include EU member states and the Schengen associated countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Search volumes expand

Automatically processed searches continued to rise in 2025, reaching more than 12 billion, compared with 9.9 billion in 2024 and 4 billion in 2021. These searches include automatic number plate recognition checks and other automated bulk queries, such as processing passenger name records. The Netherlands accounted for 29% of total SIS searches, followed by Belgium with 22%. Together, Dutch and Belgian authorities performed more than half of all searches recorded in the system during the year.

Biometric searches totaled 13,114,436 in 2025, an 88% increase from 2024. That equaled almost 36,000 biometric searches per day and about 1,500 per hour on average. The searches were carried out through SIS-AFIS, the automated fingerprint identification system operating at central level. All member states, Europol and Frontex performed fingerprint or latent searches in 2025, while five biometric search modalities were available through SIS-AFIS during the reporting year.

Alerts and hits reported

Alerts on persons rose 19% from 2024 and reached almost 2 million by the end of 2025. The largest category was alerts on third-country nationals subject to return decisions, which accounted for 41% of person alerts. Alerts on third-country nationals to be refused entry or stay accounted for 34%, followed by discreet, specific or inquiry checks and national security alerts at 11%. Missing and vulnerable persons represented 7%, and judicial procedure alerts represented 6%.

The top three contributors to stored SIS alerts were France, Italy and Germany, which together accounted for 55% of all alerts in the system at year-end. France held 19% of stored alerts, Italy held almost 19%, and Germany held 17%. Member states reported 364,984 hits on foreign alerts through SIRENE Bureaux in 2025, an 8% decline from 2024. That amounted to about 1,000 reported hits per day across the Schengen Information System.

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Tornado and rain disrupt transport across Rome

irishsentinel.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:33:44 +0000

ROME, ITALY / EuroWire / — A violent storm and tornado struck northern Rome on Wednesday, flooding streets, bringing down trees and disrupting traffic across several districts after heavy rain and strong winds swept through the Italian capital. The damage was concentrated in Prati Fiscali, Conca d’Oro and Montesacro, where roads were blocked by fallen branches, debris and water. Authorities reported no serious injuries, while local disruption affected drivers, public transport users, residents and market traders during the morning commute.

Rome crews cleared storm debris after a tornado and heavy rain struck northern districts. (Credit – WAM)

The storm hit after an unstable weather system moved across parts of Italy, bringing rain, thunderstorms, gusts and localized hail risks to central and southern regions. In Rome, the impact was most visible in the north and northeast of the city, where a tornado or tornado like wind event uprooted trees, damaged vehicles, shifted street furniture and tore through outdoor market areas. Flooding was also reported in Nomentano, Salario and Parioli, slowing traffic on roads already busy after the Republic Day holiday period.

A tree fell on the Tangenziale Est after the Salaria exit, affecting vehicles and blocking circulation, while fallen trees and flooding forced the closure of a section near Via dei Campi Sportivi. A pine tree came down on the roof of a fuel station on Via dei Prati Fiscali, and damage was reported at the market on Via Val di Lanzo, where stalls and umbrellas were hit by the wind. Some residents reported broken windows and damage to parked cars.

Transport corridors disrupted

Roma Servizi per la Mobilità said the Tangenziale section between Tor di Quinto and Campi Sportivi toward San Giovanni reopened later in the day, while a road near Salaria toward the stadium was closed for tree removal. Via Salaria remained closed near Via del Prato della Signora toward the Grande Raccordo Anulare, and Viale della Moschea reopened near Via Anna Magnani toward Foro Italico after earlier disruption linked to the storm.

The transport agency also reported heavy delays and route diversions on bus lines 38, 60, 63, 69, 80, 88, 92, 93, 311, 338, 351 and 435. Fallen branches on Via dei Prati Fiscali contributed to heavy traffic in the northeast quadrant. The disruption affected key routes used to connect residential districts with central Rome and the ring road, forcing traffic managers and emergency crews to prioritize blocked carriageways, damaged roadside infrastructure and bus diversions.

Civil protection warnings preceded storms

Italy’s Civil Protection Department had issued a weather notice before the storm, warning that scattered showers and thunderstorms would extend from Liguria and Tuscany into Lazio, Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and Puglia. The notice cited the potential for intense downpours, strong wind gusts, local hail and frequent lightning. Lazio Regional Civil Protection also issued an alert for weather related hydrogeological and hydraulic risks, valid from the early hours of Wednesday for 12 to 18 hours.

The Rome storm formed part of a broader spell of severe weather affecting Italy at the start of June, with alerts in several regions and disruption reported beyond the capital. In Rome, emergency response focused on clearing fallen trees, reopening blocked roads, restoring traffic flow and assessing damage to vehicles, public infrastructure and commercial areas. By Wednesday afternoon, some routes had reopened, but closures, delays and diversions continued in the worst affected northern and northeastern districts.

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EU Council approves new framework for drugs strategy

irishsentinel.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:12:36 +0000

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / EuroWire / — The Council of the European Union approved a framework to implement the EU Drugs Strategy and endorsed a new EU action plan against drug trafficking, setting out measures to address drug use, organized crime, public health risks and drug-related harm across the bloc. The decision, announced on June 4, places the 2026-2030 strategy into an operational phase and links health, justice, education and law enforcement work under a common EU structure.

Council approval moves the 2026-2030 EU drugs strategy into an operational phase.

The framework responds to what EU officials describe as growing health, security and societal challenges linked to drug use and trafficking. It is designed to coordinate political, policy and operational actors at local, national, EU and international levels, with a focus on reducing drug demand, limiting drug-related harm and countering trafficking networks. The endorsed action plan covers work to be carried out from 2026 to 2030.

The European Commission presented the new EU Drugs Strategy, the action plan against drug trafficking and updated rules on drug precursors in December 2025. The strategy builds on the 2021-2025 framework and covers preparedness, public health, security, harm reduction and international partnerships. It also reflects EU concerns over cocaine, synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals, online drug markets, maritime routes and the involvement of organized criminal groups in trafficking and distribution.

Framework targets trafficking networks

The action plan sets operational priorities for law enforcement, customs and judicial authorities, including stronger financial investigations and a follow-the-money approach. It also calls for reinforced maritime enforcement, wider use of the European Ports Alliance and expanded operations by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics. Public-private cooperation is included, with attention to postal and parcel services, technology companies and risks linked to online recruitment, including the recruitment of minors.

The framework also covers prevention, treatment and reintegration measures based on evidence, while supporting voluntary cooperation between member states, EU agencies and other actors on demand reduction and harm reduction. The European Union Drugs Agency is expected to support monitoring, early warning and assessment work, including on new psychoactive substances and highly potent synthetic opioids. Europol is included in the wider law enforcement structure supporting member states against organized crime and trafficking.

Monitoring linked to 2032 report

The Council said implementation will use existing EU mechanisms, tools and processes, along with cooperation projects intended to strengthen work across borders. The plan includes measures addressing synthetic drugs and drug precursors, research and innovation, information exchange and international cooperation with non-EU countries and regions. It also places drug policy within a broader internal security agenda, while retaining public health measures as a central part of the bloc’s response.

EU leaders are due to discuss challenges linked to drug use and trafficking at the European Council meeting scheduled for June 18-19, marking the first time the topic is set for discussion at that level. Progress on the strategy will be monitored over time, and an overall implementation report is expected by the end of 2032. The report is intended to support evidence-based review of the EU drugs strategy and related action plan.

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