EN   EN 
 
 
 EUROPEAN  
COMMISSION   
Brussels, 24.7.2020  
SWD(2020) 151 final  
 
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION      
      
of the      
   
EU Drugs Strategy 2013 -2020 and the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017 -2020  
{SWD(2020)  150 final}   
 
1 
 The EU Drugs Strategy 2013 -20201 and its second EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017 -20202 set 
out the political framework and priorities for EU drugs policy . The Strategy provided a 
balanced, integrated, evidence -based framework for tackling drugs in and outside the 
EU, and consisted  of two main policy areas – drug demand and supply – and three 
cross -cutting themes: coordination, international cooperation, and research, information, 
monitoring and evaluation.  
The Commission launched the evaluation of the Strategy and Action Plan in 2019 to assess 
their implementation in terms of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and EU 
added value . A wide range of stakeholders were consulted  including Memb er States 
competent authorities, civil society organisations and the general public .   
The evaluation found that the technological, social, political and environmental context 
affecting the demand and supply of drugs has changed considerably since 2013 making  the 
Strategy and Action Plan only  partial ly relevan t. However , they are largely coherent  with 
relevant European legislation and policy a t international level.  
The Strategy and Action Plan have been partially effective  in achieving the drug demand  and 
supply reduction  objectives . On the other hand, they were more effective in terms of the three 
cross -cutting objectives . The evaluation found  that drug policy was overall effectively 
coordinated at EU and international levels, and contribut ed to the ability of the EU to ‘speak 
with one voice’ , while the u nderstanding of the drugs phenomenon and the impact of 
interventions has been improving.  
On efficiency , the evaluation found no conclusive evidence that the results attributed to the 
Strategy and Action Plan  were  achieved at either reasonable or unreasonable cost. The lack of 
available quantifiable data regarding related costs made it difficul t to carry out a sound 
assessment on efficiency.  
The Strategy and Action Plan  generated EU added value  insofar as they  achieved results that 
national or other European initiative s would not have achieved . In particular, they established 
a common strategic framework, ‘bridging’ between Member States, and different levels of 
governance. They encourage d cross -border coordination, exchange of information and best 
practices among Member States.  
The stakeholder  consultations suggest that there is continued support from  Member States 
and civil society organisations for strategic EU involvement in drugs policy , and  the 
outright discontinuation of the Strategy was seen as l ikely to have negative effects.  
There is room for reflection on how to  enhance the future EU strategic document on  drugs,  
including making it concrete,  translating  it into more operational  and robust actions , and 
setting  clear priorities. Monitoring should be simplified.  In this context, the Strategy’s current 
lifespan of 8 years could be shortened .  
                                                           
1 OJ C 402, 29.12.2012, p. 1.  
2 OJ C 215, 05.07.2017, p. 21.  
 
2 
 Future priorities need to account for trends such as increased poly -criminality of organized 
crime groups and their adaptive and innovative modus operandi ; role of the EU as a  producer 
and exporter ; increased levels of violence and corruption that enable the drug trade; 
technolog ic enablers such as darknet marketplaces, cryptocurrencies and encryption 
technology for buying/selling drugs;  new patterns of drug consumption between  young people 
and the aging population, as well as gender differences ; societal  and environmental effects . 
The consequences of the drug  phenomenon  are becoming more complex and intertwined, 
extend across different sectors and go beyond EU’s borders . The future strategic approach to 
EU drugs policy must be evidence -based, balanced and further integrated  to reflect the 
relevant  trends that the EU will be facing  in the coming years.