Undersecretary of State Mantovano in Vienna for the 69th CND session: meetings with Carter (USA) and Nolan (EU)

While in Vienna for the opening of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano had two bilateral meetings.

The first meeting was with his US counterpart, Sara Carter, Head of the ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) at the White House, to discuss concerns regarding the international trafficking of synthetic opioids, in particular fentanyl, and to define enhanced cooperation to prevent and combat said trafficking and its precursors. During the meeting, drawing on decades of shared experience in fighting drug trafficking and money laundering, the two agreed to implement new protocols to provide training for police forces in Latin American countries that request it, aimed also at the 'follow the money' approach, as well as joint initiatives for effective communication, especially targeting adolescents. Undersecretary Mantovano invited Director Carter to visit Italy to further discuss its addiction treatment model, where a network of therapeutic communities represents a pillar for rehabilitation and reintegration based on the dignity of the individual.

Undersecretary Mantovano went on to meet with the new Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), Lorraine Nolan. The meeting highlighted the milestones Italy has achieved in tackling the spread of new substances, and it was agreed there is a need for the EU to support an approach aimed at prioritising objective scientific data and setting aside ideological influences, focusing on the keywords 'prevention and rehabilitation'.

The day came to a close with a side event organised by Italy on measures to prevent the misuse of fentanyl. "Two years ago, we were among the first countries to approve a national plan to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl. We acted before this phenomenon could explode in Italy", stated Undersecretary Mantovano, highlighting that "the Italian intelligence services, police forces and customs agency have stepped up their monitoring of both the routes and the web: knowledge of how they are marketed and paid for is crucial in order to limit their entry onto the market". The Italian delegation also presented the experience of the Veneto Region, as a successful model for local implementation of the national guidelines.