A4-0070/96

Proposal for a Council Regulation on north-south cooperation in the campaign against drugs and drug addiction (Budget heading B7-5080) (COM(95)0296 - C4- 0380/95 - 95/0167(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in its resolution of 15 June 1995 on this communication1, the European Parliament delivered an opinion on the guidelines,

1 OJ C 166, 3.7.1995, p. 116.

(Amendment 2)

Recital 7a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas such cooperation can only be effective worldwide if it is part of a north-south policy in which the Union takes no measures leading to loss of income and greater poverty in the south;

(Amendment 3)

Article 1

>Original text>

The European Community shall carry out cooperation activities in the field of drugs and drug addiction, giving priority to developing countries that have ratified the Single Convention of 1961 as amended by the Protocol of 1972, the Convention of 1971 and the Convention of 1988.

>Text following EP vote>

The European Community shall carry out cooperation activities in the field of drugs and drug addiction, giving priority to developing countries in which a political determination to combat drugs is present at the highest level. One indication of that determination may be the ratification of the Single Convention of 1961 as amended by the Protocol of 1972, the Convention of 1971 and the Convention of 1988.

(Amendment 4)

Article 1, sole paragraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The political commitment on the part of non-member countries should also be realized through the application of national legislation against money laundering.

(Amendment 5)

Article 2

>Original text>

The Community shall give priority to supporting partner countries requesting help in the preparation of a national drug control master plan, in close consultation with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. These plans will identify objectives, strategies and priorities in the campaign against drugs and the related requirements (including financial requirements), thus establishing an integrated, multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach designed to maximize the efficiency of Community assistance.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community shall give priority to supporting partner countries requesting help in the preparation of a national drug control master plan, in close consultation with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. These plans will identify objectives, strategies and priorities in the campaigns against drugs and the related requirements (including financial requirements), thus establishing an integrated, multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach designed to maximize the efficiency of Community assistance. The prevention of drug addiction shall be the objective of a consistent policy, to include cooperation between police forces, social workers, doctors and NGOs, and objective information campaigns on the consequences of drug addiction addressed principally at young people.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall seek to use its influence with international donors and financial institutions (IMF, World Bank, etc.) to avoid contradictions between their policies and the objectives of national drug control policies.

>Text following EP vote>

Community cooperation shall take place within a context of dialogue which takes into account genuine cultural differences which influence perceptions of drug- related issues. This is vital to ensure the social and political sustainability of drug control strategies.

>Text following EP vote>

Criteria shall be established for evaluating the progress of each initiative supported by the Community. These criteria, to be mutually acceptable to the Community and partner governments or organizations, shall be developed in a process of dialogue before Community financial assistance begins.

(Amendment 6)

Article 3, 1st paragraph, introduction

>Original text>

Preferably operating within the strategic framework established by the national plans, the Community shall also support specific operations in the following areas:

>Text following EP vote>

Preferably operating within the strategic framework established by the national plans, the Community shall also support specific operations which are genuinely effective (i.e. have a practical, tangible effect within a predetermined time frame) in the following areas:

(Amendment 33)

Article 3, 1st paragraph, 5th indent

>Original text>

- analysis of local drug abuse patterns, preventive measures, treatment and reintegration of drug addicts, risk limitation and the integration of these measures with health and education policies. Human rights will be duly respected in implementing these measures;

>Text following EP vote>

- analysis of local patterns of abuse of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances, preventive measures, reception facilities, treatment and social integration of drug addicts, risk limitation and the integration of these measures with, in particular, health, education and development policies, and the fight against poverty and economic and social exclusion;

(Amendment 8)

Article 3, 1st paragraph, 6th indent

>Original text>

- feasibility studies on cooperation projects designed to ensure that the special trade preferences granted by the Community to countries committed to curbing the drugs trade are genuinely advancing alternative social and economic development opportunities for small, independent producers of the raw materials for illegal drugs; direct support for the measures taken by these countries to curb the drugs trade.

>Text following EP vote>

- promotion of model projects for alternative development as defined by the Dublin Group, including projects that seek alternative production which can take advantage of trade preferences, particularly for the benefit of small, independent producers of the raw materials for illegal drugs. In this context there will be systematic appraisal of how greater use may be made of other Community financial instruments (e.g. the ALA and the European Development Fund) to support alternative development projects.

(Amendment 9)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph, indent -1 (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- operations to combat trafficking in and production of heroin, cocaine and dangerous synthetic drugs,

(Amendment 10)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph, indent -1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- direct measures tackling the drug problem,

(Amendment 11)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph, 1st indent

>Original text>

- the participation of local people and target groups in identifying, planning and carrying out operations,

>Text following EP vote>

- the participation of local people and target groups, particularly where eradication plans are being implemented, in identifying, planning and carrying out operations, paying particular attention to the key role of women in this respect, with account being taken of the social and environmental implications,

(Amendment 12)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph, indent 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- support for those groups of the population who have decided to withdraw from the production of drugs or precursors by assisting them to develop alternatives and protecting them from reprisals by drug traffickers,

(Amendment 35)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall take due account, in all support measures, of the need to make a clear distinction between measures to help drug users and independent, small producers of drug-related crops and measures to combat drug trafficking; the Commission shall carry out careful monitoring to see whether the support measures are effective, and shall provide full details of this.

(Amendment 14)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The Community shall only support projects where respect for human rights is guaranteed.

(Amendment 15)

Article 5(1)

>Original text>

1. Community assistance in the implementation of the operations referred to in Articles 2 and 3 shall include studies, technical assistance, training or other services, supplies and works, and evaluation and monitoring missions and audits.

>Text following EP vote>

1. Community assistance in the implementation of the operations referred to in Articles 2 and 3 shall include technical assistance, training or other services, supplies and works. It shall also include preliminary studies and evaluation and monitoring audits, the cost of which shall not exceed 10% of the appropriations allocated to this item by the budgetary authority in each financial year.

(Amendment 16)

Article 5(5), introduction

>Original text>

5. The Commission shall take all coordination measures necessary to maximize overall efficiency by enhancing the consistency and complementarity of operations financed by the Community and the Member States, and in particular:

>Text following EP vote>

5. The Commission shall take all coordination measures necessary to maximize overall efficiency by enhancing the consistency and complementarity of operations financed by the Community and the Member States, bearing in mind the importance of complying with the principle of sound management and thus avoiding excessive administrative expenditure, and in particular:

(Amendment 17)

Article 6, sole paragraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

All steps shall be taken to ensure that the aid is fully evaluated, monitored and accounted for.

(Amendment 18)

Article 7(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be responsible for appraising, approving and managing operations covered by this Regulation in accordance with the budgetary and other procedures in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission, in accordance with Article 205 of the Treaty, shall be responsible for appraising, approving and managing operations covered by this Regulation in accordance with the budgetary and other procedures in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

(Amendment 19)

Article 7(2)

>Original text>

2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed under this Regulation and any changes resulting in an increase of more than 20% in the sum initially approved for such an operation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in Article 9.

>Text following EP vote>

2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed under this Regulation and any changes resulting in an increase of more than 20% in the sum initially approved for such an operation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in Article 8.

(Amendment 20)

Article 7(5)

>Original text>

5. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to natural and legal persons of the Member States and of the recipient country. It may be extended to other developing countries.

>Text following EP vote>

5. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to natural and legal persons of the Member States, the recipient country and other developing countries.

(Amendment 21)

Article 7(6)

>Original text>

6. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other developing countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate elsewhere.

>Text following EP vote>

6. Supplies should originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other developing countries. Exceptions may be made by arrangement with the responsible department, particularly in cases where the participants would otherwise incur higher costs or a disproportionate burden.

(Amendment 22)

Article 8(3)

>Original text>

3. The committee shall meet once a year, during a joint meeting of the three committees mentioned in the first paragraph, to discuss general guidelines presented by the Commission representative for operations in the year ahead.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The committee shall meet once a year, during a joint meeting of the three committees mentioned in the first paragraph, to discuss general guidelines presented by the Commission representative for operations in the year ahead. The joint meeting of the three committees shall deliver an opinion on the general guidelines.

(Amendment 23)

Article 9, 1st paragraph

>Original text>

At the end of each budget year, the Commission shall present a report to Parliament and the Council summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year and evaluating the implementation of this Regulation over that period.

>Text following EP vote>

Before 1 September in each budget year, the Commission shall present a report to Parliament and the Council including a list of the partners in cofinanced operations and the percentage of cofinancing, summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year and providing a statistical evaluation of the implementation of this Regulation over that period.

(Amendment 24)

Article 9, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

The summary shall in particular contain information about those with whom contracts have been concluded.

>Text following EP vote>

The report shall in particular contain information about those with whom contracts have been concluded.

(Amendment 25)

Article 9, 3rd paragraph

>Original text>

The report shall also summarize any independent evaluations conducted of specific operations.

>Text following EP vote>

The report shall also:

- provide a quantified summary of any independent evaluations conducted of specific operations;

>Text following EP vote>

- include a review of the opinions delivered by the advisory committee and the way in which they were taken into account by the Commission;

>Text following EP vote>

- evaluate participation in programmes run by the UN International Drug Control Programme and the level of involvement of the population in the cultivating countries in the planning and implementation of all measures, particularly in regard to alternative development.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on north-south cooperation in the campaign against drugs and drug addiction (Budget heading B7-5080) (COM(95)0296 - C4-0380/95 - 95/0167(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0296 - 95/0167(SYN) ((OJ C 242, 19.9.1995, p. 8.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 130w of the EC Treaty (C4-0380/95),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation and the opinions of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media and the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs (A4- 0070/96),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

6. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

7. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.