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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’

(COM(2005) 399 final — 2005/0166 (COD))

(2006/C 69/05)

On 18 January 2006 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 14 November 2005. The rapporteur was Mr Olsson.

At its 423rd plenary session, held on 18-19 January 2006 (meeting of 18 January), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion nem. con. with 33 votes in favour and 1 abstention.

1.   Introduction

2.   General comments

3.   Specific comments on some Articles of the proposal

3.1   Article 5 — European Information Network

The European Information Network consists of national focal points which form an interface between the participating countries and the Centre. The focal points would collect and analyse information at national level in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centre. Each focal point would also receive an annual grant from the EU for its work, which would be regulated through a ‘grant agreement for action’.

The Committee recommends that the Centre's guidelines and agreements with Member States should require the focal points to work together with national organisations, including NGOs, which are active in the drugs field.

This should also be made clear in Article 5(2) by amending the third sentence to read as follows: ‘They shall collect and analyse at national level, in cooperation with experts and organisations in the field, all relevant information on drugs and drug addiction, as well as on policies and solutions applied’.

3.2   Article 20 — Cooperation with other national and international organisations and bodies

According to the Regulation, the Centre would actively seek the cooperation of international organisations and other, particularly European, governmental and non-governmental agencies competent in the sector of drugs. Such cooperation would be based on working arrangements concluded with the aforementioned authorities and which are the subject of an opinion by the Commission. In addition, the management board would be able to invite representatives of international organisations to participate as observers.

With a view to ensuring that these organisations participate on a more systematic and regular basis, the Committee proposes that a cooperation body be set up through the addition to Article 20 of the following text: ‘The Centre shall appoint a contact group comprising representatives of organisations competent in the field of drugs in order to examine how cooperation shall be arranged’.

Brussels, 18 January 2006.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

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(1)  Opinion on the Proposal for a Council Regulation on the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, rapporteur-general: Mr Olsson, OJ C 120, 20.5.2005.

(2)  COM(2005) 399 final, Article 9.

(3)  COM (2005)59 final and COM(2002) 718 final.

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