28 Drugs coordination in the European
Union
| (25052)
14996/03
COM(03) 681
| Commission Communication on coordination on drugs in the European Union.
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 12 November 2003
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 18 November 2003
|
| Department | Home Office |
| Basis of consideration | EM of 27 November 2003
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
28.1 The European Drugs Strategy (2000-2004)[74]
set the key targets and types of work to be done over the succeeding
five years on all EU drug-related activities. The EU Action Plan
on Drugs (2000-2004)[75]
translated the Strategy into specific actions to be done by Member
States and the EU institutions. The Commission's Communication
comes as the existing Strategy and Action Plan are nearing their
expiry and before a new Strategy and Action Plan have been developed.
The document
28.2 The document gives the Commission's explanation of why European
Union coordination of action on drugs is necessary; summarises
the existing coordination arrangements in Member States and in
the Union institutions; and makes recommendations for ways to
improve coordination.
28.3 The Commission maintains that coordination at
the EU level is necessary in response to popular demand. A Eurobarometer
survey in 2002 showed that 71% of those surveyed wanted decisions
on drugs to be taken by the EU. The document adds that the enlargement
of the Union will not make it easier to solve difficulties that
were not solved when there were only 15 Member States. A coherent
set of sustained actions is required. Continuity and consistency
are essential. A high level of coordination is necessary to ensure
a durable partnership between all the bodies concerned.
28.4 There is a risk of increased drug trafficking
through some of the accession states. The Commission considers
that coordination of drugs initiatives in those countries is crucial
and should be extended to Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.
28.5 There are also new trends in drug consumption;
for example, the growing popularity of synthetic recreational
drugs. The Commission is planning to set up a network of national
public health authorities to develop strategies for the prevention
of the abuse of legal and illegal drugs.
28.6 The Commission says that the approximation
of drugs legislation in the EU is necessary wherever isolated
and divergent national responses will be ineffective. The Commission
regrets that Member States had not yet been able to reach agreement
on the draft Framework Decision on minimum provisions on the constituent
elements of criminal acts and penalties for illicit drug trafficking.[76]
28.7 The document comments that public expenditure
on prevention, rehabilitation, health-care and other drug-related
measures is "enormous but it cannot be quantified and its
impact cannot be measured as there is no common methodology."
Stronger coordination both within Member States and at the European
level could help towards estimation of the expenditure and evaluation
of its effectiveness. Moreover, the current Action Plan does not
contain quantifiable objectives. If evaluations of strategies
and action plans are to be made in the future, pre-defined indicators
will be required.
28.8 The Commission also identifies the need for
more consistency between, on the one hand, action to prevent drug
trafficking (such as financial support to third countries from
individual Member States and the EU Drugs Action Plans for the
Caribbean, Latin America and the Balkans) and, on the other, measures
to combat poverty in drug-producing regions.
28.9 In the Commission's view, stronger EU coordination
in external relations is urgently needed.
28.10 The document summarises the organisational
changes that have been made within the Commission to strengthen
its internal coordination of drug-related work. It also refers
to the improved coordination between the Commission and Member
States that has been achieved — although much remains to
be done — through the extension of the work of the Horizontal
Working Party on Drugs.[77]
The Working Party should be the priority forum for EU coordination.
The Government's view
28.11 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the Home Office (Caroline Flint) tells us:
"The UK's updated drugs strategy provides
an effective structure for national drugs coordination. It tackles
the harm drugs cause to communities, families and individuals
with a full range of education, prevention, enforcement, treatment
and harm minimisation initiatives. It is the primary driver of
our actions against drugs.
"But we will work bilaterally with other
countries and in international structures, including Europe, when
this will add value. Broadly this means, in regard to supply reduction,
practical and operational cooperation as well as exchange of best
practice and information. For demand reduction it means facilitating
exchange of best practice and cooperation, and evidence-base building.
The paper's recommendations on these issues are broadly in line
with UK thinking. The Government welcomes the development of common
indicators to reliably evaluate progress against the targets set."
28.12 The Minister also comments:
"The Government agrees that the development
of a common framework for action in the Union should necessitate
clear definitions of the objectives to be achieved and the roles
and responsibilities of those expected to achieve them. We also
agree that the Horizontal Drugs Group suffers from a lack of focus.
The Government will aim to negotiate language into the next EU
strategy on drugs to formally define its role. Reflecting the
Commission's broad view we believe it should be [to] oversee the
delivery of a series of timebound actions set out within a new
EU action plan on drugs."
28.13 The Government agrees with the Commission that
operational coordination should include coordination between law-enforcement
authorities and local, national and European social and public
health services.
28.14 The Government also agrees that EU Drugs Action
Plans with third countries and regions are often not coordinated
properly or accompanied by practical means to achieve objectives.
But the Minister stresses that EU action should complement bilateral
cooperation, not replace it.
28.15 In the Government's view, value can be gained
from the combined weight of the EU Member States acting together
in international discussions, but differences in national approaches
will continue to exist and the ability of individual Member States
to pursue individual priorities should not be undermined.
Conclusion
28.16 Member States have the primary responsibility
for the fight against drugs and for dealing with the harmful consequences
of drugs for health and the community. But effective action is
also needed at EU level. We recognise, therefore, the importance
of EU strategies and action plans on drugs, with clear objectives
and measurable indicators so that achievement can be evaluated
systematically. While accepting the scope for improvements in
coordination of the kind the Commission has in mind, we emphasise
the need not only to ensure rigorous respect for the principle
of subsidiarity but also to preserve the legitimate rights of
individual Member States to protect and advance their interests
in international and bilateral discussions of matters relating
to drugs.
28.17 The current EU Strategy and Action Plan
will expire at the end of this year. In our view, the Commission's
Communication provides a timely and constructive contribution
to the discussions on the next Strategy and Action Plan and we
clear it from further scrutiny.
74 (20695) 12555/99: see HC 23-ii (1999-2000), paragraph
19 (1 December 1999). Back
75
(21274) 8305/00 (REV 2): see HC 23-xxi (1999-2000), paragraph
10 (14 June 2000). Back
76
(23401) 7914/02: see HC 152-xxix (2001-02), paragraph 16 (15
May 2002). Back
77
The Working Party initiates, reviews and coordinates all matters
relevant to drugs, reporting directly to COREPER. Its members
come from Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs
and Drug Addiction as well as from Member States and the Commission. Back
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