This project analyses (quantifies) the relationship between the EU’s internal orphan drug regulation and the market approval of innovative medicines in six EU Southern Neighbourhood countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia). This project builds pathways to further understand the factors that influence this EU-developing country relationship in two qualitative case studies (Jordan, Syria).

In the Netherlands roughly 25.000 times a year evidence material is analyzed for the presence of drugs of abuse. These analyses are conducted in laboratories from the Dutch Polic, the Netherlands Forensic Institute, and the Dutch Customs Laboratory. The preferred technique, GC-MS, relies on gas chromatographic separation followed by mass spectrometric characterization. In addition to the detection of drugs of abuse, GC-MS also provides valuable information on the origin, production and transport of the confiscated material. In the FIDBID project, forensic experts, data scientists and criminologists join forces to fully automatically extract and report this goldmine of forensic intelligence.

It is crucial that politicians uphold democratic and moral norms, especially in times of grand societal transitions and crises. DeMoCraft studies the knowledge, skills, attitudes and practices that politicians need to do this. We look at what helps and hinders the ‘democratic moral craftsmanship’ of local, regional, and national politicians, and how it affects the quality and integrity of political decision-making and policy processes. To strengthen political-administrative resilience and enhance citizen trust, we develop interventions that stimulate and support politicians in their democratic and moral behavior.

The European Union (EU) plays a central role in regulating Europe’s medicines supply. New evidence suggests these internal actions also impact on medicines access outside of Europe, which can have important consequences for political and economic stability, and human health and wellbeing. This project investigates the EU’s legal and ethical responsibilities towards medicines access in low- and middle-income countries, and studies how the EU’s actions can and do impact on access to medicines in these countries. This project proposes a legal impact model that can guide the EU’s future action towards pharmaceuticals in line with its principles and values.