A4-0093/96

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the adoption of a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996-2000) (C4-0008/96 - 94/0135(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0008/96 - 94/0135(COD),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJC269, 16.10.1995, p. 65.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(94)0223 ((OJC257, 14.9.1994, p. 4.)),

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal, COM(95)0579 ((OJC34, 7.2.1996, p. 4.)),

- having regard to Article 189b(2) of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0093/96),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Calls on the Commission to support Parliament's amendments in the opinion it is required to deliver pursuant to Article 189b(2)(d) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament's amendments, amend its common position accordingly and definitively adopt the act;

4. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 3)

Recital 9a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(9a) Whereas the drug problem, being multidimensional, makes it essential to adopt a multidisciplinary approach, with two overriding objectives: firstly, to ease the burden that drug dependence imposes on society, secondly, to pursue a policy of reducing harm to the individual user, with care taken to limit such adverse consequences as further damage to health and social exclusion;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 10a (new)

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(10a) Whereas drug addicts are above all people with a health problem;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 10b (new)

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(10b) Whereas policy on drug addiction must focus on prevention without, however, losing sight of the need to help drug addicts, in order to protect their health and quality of life and, ultimately, to wean them off drugs and effect their rehabilitation and reintegration into society;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 10c (new)

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(10c) Whereas drug dependence is a sickness which can be prevented and treated;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 15

>Original text>

(15) Whereas the programme should have as its objective to help combat drug dependence by preventing dependence linked to the use of narcotics and psychotropic substances and associated use of other products for the purposes of drug addiction;

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(15) Whereas the programme should have as its objective to contribute to the enhancement of awareness of the use and abuse of narcotics, psychotropic substances, alcohol and pharmaceutical products and the misuse of chemical substances or products for drug abuse purposes; to contribute to improving recognition of risk situations, early detection, counselling and advice, health and social support with a view to preventing drug use, facilitating the end of drug use, lowering the mortality rate, reducing the risks of infection by agents of infection and reducing marginalization;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 15a (new)

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(15a) Whereas, from the point of view of prevention, it is not advisable to draw a sharp distinction between soft and hard drugs;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 17a (new)

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(17a) Whereas, when prevention strategies prove unsuccessful, special consideration should be given to difficulties faced by the socially excluded in obtaining help;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 17b (new)

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(17b) Whereas the prison environment may foster drug dependence and turns many prisoners into users of addictive substances;

(Amendment 11)

Recital 17c (new)

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(17c) Whereas a successful model to combat drug abuse in prisons must be based on tight control of the scope for smuggling and adequate supervision of prisoners; whereas prisoners wishing to end their drug abuse should be placed in their own ward, and incentives provided to encourage prisoners to want to end their drug dependence; whereas they must also be given social training;

(Amendment 12)

Recital 18

>Original text>

(18) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure that this programme is implemented in close cooperation with the Member States; whereas, to that end, provision must be made for a procedure to ensure that Member States are fully involved in implementing the programme;

>Text following EP vote>

(18) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure implementation of this programme in close cooperation with the Member States; whereas, to that end, provision should be made for a procedure to ensure that Member States are fully involved in implementing the programme;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 21a (new)

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(21a) Whereas organizations for cooperation with former drug addicts and the parents of or people caring for drug addicts must be strengthened;

(Amendment 15)

Article 2(2)

>Original text>

2. The Commission shall cooperate with the institutions and organizations which are active in the field of drug demand reduction.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The Commission shall cooperate with the institutions and organizations which are active in the field of drug demand reduction; in particular, it shall encourage participation in the implementation of the programme by public and private bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), volunteers and therapy or social welfare communities.

(Amendment 17)

Article 4(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between actions to be implemented under this programme and other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the 'SOCRATES¨, 'LEONARDO DA VINCI¨ and 'Youth for Europe (III)" programmes and the biomedical and health research programme under the Community's framework programme for research.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complementarity between actions to be implemented under this programme and other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the 'SOCRATES¨, 'LEONARDO DA VINCI¨ and 'Youth for Europe (III)" programmes and the biomedical and health research programme under the Community's framework programme for research, and that opportunities provided under other Community policies, programmes and instruments, where appropriate, are utilized in order to help maximize the effectiveness of this programme.

(Amendment 18)

Article 4(2)

>Original text>

2. The Commission shall also ensure that in the activities undertaken account is also taken of the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EDMC). It shall also ensure, together with the Member States, that the Community's priorities and needs are taken into due account in the EDMC's programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The Commission shall also ensure that the activities implemented take into account the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EDMC). It shall also ensure, together with the Member States, that the Community's priorities and needs are taken into due account in the EDMC's programmes. The Commission shall undertake any measures needed to ensure that the EDMC liaises with non-governmental and voluntary organizations working in the field.

(Amendment 19)

Article 5(2), introduction and (a) to (c)

>Original text>

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee draft measures concerning:

>Text following EP vote>

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures of general application to be taken concerning:

>Original text>

(a) the Committee's rules of procedure;

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(a) the Committee's rules of procedure;

>Original text>

(b) an annual work programme indicating the priorities for action;

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(b) an annual work programme indicating the priorities for action;

>Original text>

(c) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting and financing projects under this programme, including those involving cooperation with international organizations competent in the field of public health and participation of the countries mentioned in Article 6(2);

>Text following EP vote>

(c) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting projects under the programme, including those involving cooperation with international organizations having responsibility in the field of public health and participation of the countries referred to in Article 6(2);

(Amendment 21)

Article 5(4), second subparagraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The responsible committee of the European Parliament shall receive the same information on an annual basis.

(Amendment 23)

Annex (A)(5), indent 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- promoting the development and application of the most effective medical and psycho-social assistance to drug addicts, aimed at reducing dependence and, if possible, enabling those dependent on drugs to kick their habit and achieve rehabilitation and reintegration;

(Amendment 24)

Annex (A)(5), indents 4a, 4b and 4c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- developing appropriate preventive strategies that benefit users, experimenters and potential users who are not reached by conventional preventive strategies, particularly in the sphere of recreational drug use;

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- encouraging socio-preventive measures that influence the social causes of drug use, such as deprivation and social exclusion;

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- promoting measures at grassroots level, in line with an approach designed to benefit risk groups who are not reached by conventional assistance and prevention strategies;

(Amendment 26)

Annex (A)(6)

>Original text>

6. Encourage the exchange of information and experience on preventing drug addiction relapses, including the rehabilitation of drug users.

>Text following EP vote>

6. Encourage the exchange of information and experience on preventing drug addiction relapses, including the rehabilitation of drug users; examine the possibility of implementing measures to assist the relatives or guardians of drug addicts engaged in the difficult process of recovering from drug dependence; these relatives and guardians should be given every possible assistance to help them in their task; examine the possibility of financing projects drawn up by public or private bodies, residential therapy communities or social welfare associations or cooperatives with the aim of providing training and employment for drug addicts who have completed a programme of treatment and are set to be reintegrated into working life.

(Amendment 27)

Annex (B), introduction

>Original text>

Objective

Contribute to improving information, education and training aimed at preventing drug dependence and the associated risks, in particular for young people and particularly vulnerable groups.

>Text following EP vote>

Objective

Contribute to improving information, education and training aimed at preventing drug dependence and the associated risks, in particular for young people - in the relevant environments: home, school, university and leisure time - and particularly vulnerable groups. Emphasis will be placed on involving young people in a dialogue in order to make prevention strategies aimed at young people realistic and credible. Specific support will be given to measures to teach young people the social skills needed to make choices and cope with risks.

(Amendment 28)

Annex (B)(a)(10)

>Original text>

10. Help to define drug prevention guidelines and support the selection and use of teaching methods and materials, in particular within the context of the European network of health-promoting schools, in order to develop attitudes in young people which will enable them to avoid drugs and drug addition; support integrated projects, programmes and other drug prevention initiatives in places frequented by children and young people, with the participation wherever possible of parents and those concerned.

>Text following EP vote>

10. Help to define guidelines on the prevention of drug abuse and foster the selection and use of teaching methods and materials, in particular within the context of the European network of health-promoting schools, in order to develop attitudes in young people which will enable them to avoid drugs and drug addition; support integrated projects, programmes and other drug prevention initiatives in places frequented by children and young people, with the participation wherever possible of parents and those concerned; promote highly specialized social skill programmes that teach young children to cope with the existence of a range of stimulants, including drugs; promote expertise among intermediaries who come into contact with groups of potential users.

(Amendment 29)

Annex (B)(a)(12a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

12a. Support activities and projects aimed at the prevention of drug dependence and associated risks, promoted by voluntary associations, residential therapy communities and social welfare cooperatives.

(Amendment 31)

Annex (B)(b)(16)

>Original text>

16. Support the development of further-training programmes, teaching materials and modules for those likely to come into contact with drug users and groups at risk, including in particular social work, health, police and other law-enforcement professionals.

>Text following EP vote>

16. Support the development of further-training programmes, teaching materials and modules for those likely to come into contact with drug users and groups at risk, including in particular social work, health- care, police and other law-enforcement professionals; the latter must cooperate amongst themselves and with voluntary organizations and NGOs with a view to preventing drug dependence.