Moldovan president participates in meeting of European Coalition Against Drugs at European Political Community's Summit in Yerevan

President Maia Sandu today took part in the second meeting of the European Coalition Against Drugs, held on the sidelines of the European Political Community’s summit in Yerevan. The Coalition was launched in October 2025 in Copenhagen, at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, as a collective response by European leaders to the growing threats posed by drug trafficking and organized crime.

During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed that combating illicit financial flows, money laundering and corruption was an essential component of a comprehensive anti-drug strategy. Senior officials emphasized that mechanisms for sanctioning assets derived from crimes committed by individuals and organizations involved in drug trafficking must be adopted by as many states as possible, including the proposal currently being developed at the level of the European Union.

At the same time, they committed to harmonizing procedures for the confiscation of assets arising from criminal activities and the management of these funds, so that national law-enforcement institutions and prevention programmes can directly benefit from the resources recovered. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening operational cooperation among the Coalition’s member states and improving the exchange of information, especially regarding the use of cryptocurrencies for money laundering purposes.

The participation of Moldova in this meeting continues Chisinau’s efforts in combating cross-border crime. Moldova, like other European countries, faces threats posed by drug trafficking and organized criminal networks, given its geographical position and the security pressures in the region. Combating these phenomena is a national priority and cooperation at the European level is a vital multiplier of domestic efforts.

Also, on the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan head of state had more bilateral discussions, including with Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland, Micheál Martin, Prime Minister of Ireland, Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain, and Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO.