On May 19, 2025, the National Agency for Cannabis Control (AKKC), with the support of the European Union’s TAIEX instrument, held an official meeting at the Institute for Addictive Behaviors (ICAD) in Lisbon, Portugal. The Albanian delegation also included representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of the Interior, and the State Police.
The delegation was received by senior officials of ICAD, including Mr. João Goulão, President of the Executive Board, Ms. Ana Sofia Santos, Head of the National Drug Observatory, as well as representatives from the Unit for International Relations and Cooperation.
During the meeting, NACC was introduced to the EU’s most advanced practices in data collection and analysis for public policymaking, with a special focus on the National Information System, the structure of the National Drug Observatory, and the Early Warning System, as inspiring models for the further development of capacities in Albania.
The visit to ICAD represents an important step toward strengthening institutional cooperation with European partners and establishing strategic contacts for the development of a coordinated and integrated approach to the monitoring of controlled substances in Albania.
