The delegation of the ECECACD visited the Republic of Lithuania on November 2-4, 2022. During the visit

Commissioners engaged in a dialogue with Lithuanian high-level authorities, and shared their experience as policymakers in the drug policy field. The country visit provided an opportunity to discuss the current evidence and best practices from around the world and get a better understanding of Lithuanian context and current developments, as well as propose and discuss more balanced and efficient drug control measures.

The visit was conducted in the time when the Seimas (Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania) discusses a bill on decriminalization of possession of cannabis. It is expected that the decision on the bill (first reading) will be done during nearest weeks. If passed, the bill would be a significant step for the country. 

Commissioners dedicate their efforts to provide expertise in order to support drug policy reform in the country.

During the visit Commissioners met with H.E. Mr. Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, H.E. Mr. Valdas Adamkus,  former President of the Republic of Lithuania,  Mrs. Viktorija Čmilytė-Nilsien, Speaker of the Seimas, Parliament members, Ministers of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, leaders of political parties and members of the European Parliament, specialists of the Department of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control, and NGO representatives.

The ECECACD delegation members list:

Mr. Vytenis Andriukaitis, WHO Special Envoy for the European region, former European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Lithuania.

Mr. Pavel Bém, former Mayor of Prague and former Head of drug policies, Czech Republic, member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

Professor Michel Kazatchkine, former Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria; Senior Fellow at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, (Chair), former President of the Republic of Poland, member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

Mr. Andris Piebalgs, former European Commissioner for Development, Professor at the European University Institute, Latvia.

Mr. Volodymyr Tymoshenko, Professor at the National Defense University and the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, PhD in Law, Academic of the Academy of political and juridical science of Ukraine, Lieutenant General of the Security Service of Ukraine, Head of the Eurasian Drug Policy Institute.

Ms. Olena Kucheruk, Executive secretary to the ECECACD