EMCDDA – European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is the reference point on drugs and drug addiction information in Europe. Inaugurated in Lisbon in 1995, it is one of the EU’s decentralised agencies.

The EMCDDA exists to provide the EU and its Member States with a factual overview of European drug problems and a solid evidence base to support the drugs debate. Today it offers policymakers the data they need for drawing up informed drug laws and strategies. It also helps professionals and practitioners working in the field pinpoint best practice and new areas of research.

While the EMCDDA is primarily European in focus, it also works with partners in other world regions, exchanging information and expertise. Collaboration with European and international organisations in the drugs field is also central to its work as a means of enhancing understanding of the global drugs phenomenon.

The EMCDDA works on the principle that sound information is the key to an effective strategy on drugs. Although it does not propose policy, the agency is now making a clear impact on decision-making through the analyses, standards and tools it provides.

• One (or more) of IMARC’s three dimensions: border crossing, social justice, security
• One (or more) themes within these dimensions:
  • • Theory & (research) Methodology
    • EU Law & Policy on Justice and Home Affairs
    • Regulation & Control

EMCDDA is not a research centre, but a monitoring centre. This means they rely on data from their network of National Focal Points (Reitox network) for national data, and of external partners (such as Europol, actual research centres etc). This means that scientific analysts at their Agency need to be able to work with all kinds of data, interpret them, contextualize them, and mainly draft reports and publications based on those data. They have two main scientific units: Health and Security. Criminologists are most likely to be recruited for the Security unit.

• Independent conduct of research
• Access to data/documents
• Possibility to consult experts and specialists
• Actively contributing to the development of policy
• Internship/traineeship
• Desk research

Yes (for internships):

• our internship are most often paid traineeships, which one needs to apply for through open vacancies (annually). We cannot give priority to organisations to have the traineeships filled in. Vacancies are published by the EMCDDA once a year and applications shall be submitted between 1 November and 31 December every year. Applications received outside the above-mentioned time frame will not be considered.

• English

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The starting period and length of the traineeship are two variables that are not predetermined. Candidates are required to provide information on their availability at the time of their application.