COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 23.11.1995 
COM(95)579 final 
95/0135 (COD) 
Amended proposal for 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 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
Amended proposal for 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 (1995-2001) 
1. The initial proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a 
programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence was 
adopted by the Commission on 21 June 1994. 
2. The Economic and Social Committee1 and the Committee of the Regions2 
delivered favourable opinions on this initial Commission proposal 
3. In the light of the European Parliament's opinion after its first reading on 20 
September 1995 an amended proposal for a decision was submitted by the 
Commission in accordance with Article 189a of the Treaty. The text incorporates 
essentially two types of amendment: 
amendments which strengthen the initial proposal by broadening out 
Community action to target areas or groups for prevention identified as 
priorities by the European Parliament; 
amendments which make certain points in the initial proposal more 
explicit and clearer. 
4. The European Parliament adopted 56 amendments when it voted on 20 September 
1995, of which 20 were acceptable in toto or in part by the Commission ( 15. 22, 
•31, 32. II, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30/33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41.49, 51. 52. 61). 
5. The amendments which are not acceptable by the Commission can be separated 
into three groups: 
- those raising problems which should be dealt with horizontally inasmuch they 
go beyond the specific framework of this programme (42) or problems to be 
handled in other health-related programmes (7, 37. and 55) or as part of the 
integrated EU action plan against drugs. (3. 4, 17. 39 and 60): 
- amendments which make a political judgement on the international and 
national strategies and the legislations in force in the Member States, and so 
go beyond the sphere of Community powers based on Article 129 ( 1, 5, 8. 10, 
13, 14, 24, 56, 57); 
- amendments which propose a less flexible wording than that proposed by the 
Commission, which introduce elements which already feature in the proposed 
decision implicitly or at a more appropriate point, or which overlap with 
amendments which are acceptable (6, 9, 12, 16. 18. 20. 25. 27. 29. 34, 45. 47, 
48. 53, 54 and 59). 
Opinion delivered on 22 February 1995. 
Opinion delivered on 16 November 1994. 
-fc -
CODECISION PROCEDURE - FIRST READING 
Amended procedure for 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 
(COM (94) 223 final) 
-7*>~ 
COM(94)223 final Amended proposal 
PROPOSAL FOR 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 
(.1995-2000) 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE 
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
I laving regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Community, and in particular Article 
129 thereof, 
I laving regard to the proposal from the 
Commission, 
I laving regard to the opinion of the Economic 
and Social Committee, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Committee of the Regions, 
1) Whereas drug dependence has grown 
alarmingly in the Member States and has 
serious implications for the health of 
individuals and Die welfare of the general 
public; 
2) Whereas, in creating in 1985 a Committee 
of Inquiry into the problem of drugs in the 
Member States, the European Parliament 
demonstrated its desire to study in depth the 
factors which trigger drug demand and enable 
drugs to continue being produced and 
distributed. 
3) Whereas in its resolutions concerning this 
problem the European Parliameni formulated a 
series of proposals with a view, in particular, 
to Community action on the prevention of 
drug dependence; PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
ADOPTING A PROGRAMME OF 
COMMUNITY ACTION ON THE 
PREVENTION OF DRUG DEPENDENCE 
WITIIIN THE FRAMEWORK. FOR ACTION 
IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
(1995-2001) 
4) Whereas the European Council, at its 
meeting in Dublin on 25 and 26 June 1990, 
stressed that it was the responsibility of each 
Member State to develop an appropriate drug 
demand reduction programme and considered 
that effective action by each Member State, 
supported by joint action of the Twelve and 
the Community, should be a main priority 
over the coming years; 
A 
5) Whereas the actions undertaken al 
Community level on ihc basis of the Council 
resolutions, declarations and conclusions 
iclaling lo the prevention of drug dependence, 
and in particular subsequent to the adoption of 
the European Council, meeting in Rome on 13 
and 14 December 1990, of the European Plan 
to Combat Drugs, have helped to sustain the 
Member States' efforts; 
6) Whereas these actions need to be continued 
and consolidated within the framework of the 
action in the field of public health set out by 
the Commission Communication of 
24 November 1993 and must take into 
account, as the Council requested in its 
resolution of 17 May 1993, other actions 
undertaken by the Community in the Field of 
public health or which have an impact on 
public health; 
7) Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 
302/93 established a European Monitoring 
Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction to 
provide the Community and its Member Stales 
with reliable and comparable information 
concerning drugs and drug addiction, 
8) Whereas the declaration on the occasion on 
the entry into force of the Treaty on European 
Union adopted by the European Council, 
meeting in Brussels on 29 October 1993, 
emphasised that the Treaty provides "a 
structured institutional framework, so that in 
particular greater control can be achieved over 
those of society's problems that run across 
frontiers, such as drugs (...)"; 
9) Whereas the problems associated with the 
drugs phenomenon are such that they require a 
fully coordinated and global strategy, as has 
been stated by the European Council, meeting 
in Brussels on 10 and 11 December 1993, 
Recital 9a [new| 
Whereas drug addicts are frequently persons 
suffering from health problems. 
Recital 9b [new] 
Whereas anv strategy aimed at preventing 
drug addiction must take into account every 
aspect of the drugs problem; 
10) Whereas drug dependence, the only 
scourge expressly mentioned in the provisions 
of the Treaty establishing the European 
Community dealing with public health, is 
therefore a priority for Community action 
within the framework for action in the field of 
public health set out by the Commission; 
11 ) Whereas this programme forms one of the 
essential component parts of the 
Communication from the Commission to the 
Council and the European Parliament of 
23 June 1994 on a European Union Action 
Plan to combat drugs (1995-1999); 
12) Whereas, in accordance with the principle 
of subsidiarity, actions on matters not under 
the exclusive competence of the Community, 
such as those on drug dependence, must only 
be undertaken by the Community when, by 
reason of their scale or effects, their objectives 
can be l>etter achieved by the Community; 
13) Whereas cooperation with the competent 
international organisations and the non-
member countries should be strengthened; 
14) Whereas a multiannual programme should 
be launched with clear objectives for 
Community action, and priority actions 
selected with a view to preventing drug 
dependence and the associated problems, as 
well as appropriate evaluation mechanisms; 
15) Whereas the programme should have as its 
objective to contribute to the enhancement of 
awareness on the use of narcotics and 
psychotropic substances, on the abuse of 
alcohol and pharmaceutical products, on the 
misuse of chemical substances or products for 
drug abuse purposes; to contribute to improve 
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 
marginalisation, 
Recital 15a |ncw| 
Whereas the drugs problem, being 
multidimensional, makes it essential to adopt a 
multidisciplinary and integrated approach; and 
whereas the programme should help to 
achieve coordination of action to prevent 
dependence and reducing the risks associated 
therewith in the context of public health. 
Recital 15b [ncwl 
Whereas there is a need both for general 
preventive action and for preventive measures 
focusing on specific target groups, particularly 
the young and those living on the fringes of 
society, taking care to avoid stereotypes when 
it comes to dependent persons. 
16) Whereas, from an operational point of 
view, the investment made in the past in terms 
of both the establishment of Community 
networks of non-governmental organisations 
and of the mobilisation of all those involved 
in preventing drug dependence should be 
safeguarded and developed; 
17) Whereas, however, possible duplication of 
effort should be avoided by the promotion of 
exchanges of experience and by the joint 
development of basic information modules for 
the public, for health education and for 
training members of health professions; 
18) Whereas, in order to increase the value 
and impact of the programme, a continuous 
assessment of the measures undertaken should 
be carried out, with particular regard to their 
effectiveness and the achievement of 
objectives both at national and Community 
levels and, where appropriate, to make the 
necessary amendments; 
19) Whereas this programme should last five 
years in order to allow sufficient time to carry 
out the actions required to achieve the 
objectives set; Recital 15b (new) 
Recital 15c (ncw| 
Whereas the level of knowledge concerning 
drugs and dependent persons and their 
consequences needs to lie improved, as do the 
ways and means of preventing addiction and 
reducing the risks associated thereto; 
Recital 16a 
Whereas the involvement in the 
implementation of the programme of public. 
private, non-governmental and voluntary 
organisations, and of therapeutic communities 
and various associations should accordingly be 
encouraged; 
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Recital 19a |ncw| ' 
Whereas this Decision establishes for the 
duration of the programme an overall budget 
which constitutes a preferential point of 
reference, pursuant to point 1 of the 
Declaration by the European Parliament, the 
Council and the Commission of 6 March 
1995, for the budgetary authority for the 
purposes of the annual budget procedure. 
Article 1 
A Community action programme on the 
prevention of drug dependence is adopted for 
a five-year period from to 
.\rticle 2 
1. The programme will involve the following 
areas of activities: Recital 15b |nov| 
a) improving public awareness, in particular 
by means of coordinated transnational actions, 
b) using the opportunities provided in other 
Community policies, programmes and 
instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and 
combat drug dependence; 
c) initiatives and actions relating to young 
people of school-going age in relevant 
environments - home, leisure and school - and 
the promotion of best practices in this regard. 
2. The Commission shall ensure 
implementation of the activities set out in 
paragraph 1 and in the Annex, in accordance 
with Article 4, and in close cooperation with 
the Member States and the institutions and 
organisations active in the prevention of drug 
dependence. 
3. The Commission shall also ensure that the 
activities undertaken take due account of the 
information activities of the European 
Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug 
Addiction. Article 2/1 
a) working to improve public awareness of the 
phenomenon of drug dependence and the risks 
associated with this, in particular by means of 
coordinated transnational actions; 
c) initiatives and actions relating to young 
people in their relevant - environment, home, 
leisure, school and university - and the 
promotion of best practices in this regard. 
d) (ncw)action targeted at high-risk groups 
e) (new)working to improve the level of 
knowledge concerning drugs and dependence 
and their consequences and concerning the 
ways and means of preventing addiction and 
reducing the risks associated thereto; 
f) Inewl working to improve training and to 
step up cooperation on the prevention of drug 
dependence and on the reduction of the risks 
associated thereto; 
Article 3 
The budgetary authority shall determine the 
appropriations available for each financial 
year. 
Article 4 
For the implementation of the programme the 
Commission shall be assisted by an advisory 
committee, hereinafter referred to as "the 
Committee", comprising two representatives 
from each Member State and chaired by a 
Commission representative. 
The representative of the Commission shall 
submit to the Committee a draft set of the 
measures to be taken. The Committee shall 
deliver its opinion on the draft within a time 
limit which the chairman may lay down 
according to the urgency of the matter, if 
necessary bv taking a vote. Recital 15b jncwj 
Article 2.3 a |ncw| 
The Commission shall also ensure, in 
conjunction with the Member States, that due 
account is taken of Community priorities and 
requirements in the programmes of the 
EMCDDA. 
Article 2.4 (new| 
The Commission and the Member States shall 
ensure that there is consistency between this 
programme and the EU plan for action against 
drugs where it addresses the reduction of 
demand. 
Article 3 
1. The budget for the implementation of this 
programme for the period stipulated in Article 
1, shall be set at ECU 28.5 million. 
2. The annual appropriations shall be 
authorised by the budgetary authority within 
the limits of the financial perspective. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; 
in addition, each Member State shall have the 
right to ask to have its position recorded in the 
minutes 
The Commission shall take the utmost account 
of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It 
shall inform the Committee of the manner in 
which its opinion has been taken into account. 
Article 5 
1 In the course of the implementation of the 
programme, cooperation with non-member 
countries, and with international organisations 
active in the field of public health, will be 
encouraged. 
2. The EFT A countries and the countries from 
Central and Eastern Europe may be associated 
with the activities under the programme under 
the conditions set out in the agreements 
concluded with the Community. 
3. The Commission shall cooperate with the 
Council of Europe's Pompidou Group. It shall 
inter alia strengthen its regular contacts with 
international intergovernmental organisations 
such as the World Health Organisation 
(WHO), the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organisation 
(UNESCO), the International Labour Office 
(1LO) and the United Nations Drug Control 
Programme (UNDCP). 
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall regularly publish 
information on the actions undertaken in the 
context of this programme. 
2. The Commission shall submit to the 
European Parliament, the Council, the 
Economic and Social Committee and the 
Committee of the Regions a mid-term report 
on the actions undertaken, as well as an 
overall report at the end of the programme. 
Article 7 
This decision shall enter into force on the 20th 
day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
ANNEX 
Programme activities: 
a) Improving public awareness in particular by 
means of coordinated transnational actions. 
Activities under this heading might model on 
the European Drug Prevention Week, 
particularly relevant to highlight and stimulate 
Community and transnational efforts and on 
previous coordinated transnational actions. Recital 15b |new| 
2. This programme shall be open lo the 
participation of the associated countries of 
Central and Eastern Europe in accordance 
with the conditions set out in the additional 
protocols to the association agreements 
covering particpation in Community 
programmes to be signed with these countries. 
This programme shall also be open to Cyprus 
and Malta on the basis of additional 
appropriations and according to the same rules 
as those applicable to the EFTA countries, in 
accordance with procedures to be agreed on 
with these countries. 
a) - working to improve public awareness of 
the phenomenon of drug dependence and the 
risks associated with this, in particular by 
means of coordinated transnational actions; 
- support for projects to assess the 
effectiveness of information campaigns and 
determine the awareness of Europeans, 
especially the young, with regard to drugs, 
including changes in their attitudes towards 
drugs; 
b) Using opportunities provided in other 
Community policies, programmes and 
instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and 
combat drug dependence. This could be 
relevant in areas such as social affairs, 
particularly concerning migrants, poverty, 
employment, protection of workers' health, and 
safety and the Structural Funds including 
Community initiatives; the single market and 
consumer policy, particularly as regards drug 
precursors, pharmaceutical and medicinal 
products and dangerous substances and 
preparations; education and training; activities 
in the field of culture, communication and 
information, research and health systems, on 
addiction behaviour as described in the 
Commission proposal for a specific RTD 
programme and in the area of biomedicine and 
health (1994-1998) and, of course, other 
programmes based on Article 129 e.g. AIDS 
and other communicable diseases, health 
promotion, information, education and 
training. Recital 15b |new| 
- ihe organisation of further Iuiopean Drug 
Prevention Weeks on the basis ol information 
to date; 
- identifying, testing and developing the most 
effective methods of conveying 
information, especially to certain groups, in 
particular bv: 
- promoting the use of purpose-prepared 
information for particular target environments 
and groups; 
- support for action to adapt messages to the 
needs and specific characteristics of 
particularly vulnerable groups. 
- support the development of help-lines and 
examining the feasibility of introducing a 
single telephone number for such serviocs in 
all the Member States, 
b) Using opportunities provided in other 
Community policies, programmes and 
instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and 
combat drug dependence. The Commission 
and the Member States shall ensure 
consistency and complementarity between the 
action to be pursued under this programme 
and under other relevant Community actions 
and initiatives, including Socrates. Leonardo 
and Youth for Europe III, the research 
programme in the field of biomedicine and 
health under the Community's framework R & 
D programme, and the Structural Funds. 
Particular attention will be paid to prevention 
projects likely to have an impact on the social 
causes of drug-taking, e.g. deprivation and 
exclusion, and to contribute to ihe social 
reintegration of dependent persons 
c) Initiatives and actions relating to young 
people of school-going age in relevant 
environments - home, leisure and school - and 
the promotion of best practices in this regard. 
Young people are considered as the primary 
target group for the purpose of drug 
prevention. The diversity of the preventive 
approaches adopted can provide examples of 
good practices which help those responsible in 
the field of drug prevention in Member States 
to leam from experience elsewhere. A specific 
support in particular to the dissemination of 
information and advice directed towards 
young people in relevant environments -
home, leisure, school - is therefore likely to be 
of most value. Recital 15b (new) 
c) Initiatives and actions relating to young 
people in relevant environments - home, 
leisure, university and school - and the 
promotion of best practices in this regard: 
-spécifie support in particular to the 
dissemination of information and advice 
directed towards young people in high-risk 
areas and in all environments where they are 
likely to come into contact with the problem, 
- support for the creation of a Community 
network based on a selection by Member 
States of schools located in areas at risk; 
- support for integrated projects, programmes 
and other drug prevention initiatives in the 
schools involved in this network, with the 
participation wherever possible of children, 
young people and parents; 
-d) [new]Specific risk groups: 
- support for studies (particularly for 
evaluation purposes') and actions, and 
promotion of exchange of experience on the 
ways and means of preventing the risks 
associated with drug dependence, including 
backup health easures such as substitution 
programmes, targeting in particular the 
IVDUs. dependent women who are pregnant 
and addict detainees; 
- encouraging exchange of information and 
experience on how to prevent relapse, and 
also covering rehabilitation; 
support for the compilation of a Community 
guide listing organisations involved in the 
management of drug addicts and giving 
practical details concerning capacity and range 
of services available. 
e) [new]working to improve the level of 
knowledge concerning drugs and dependence 
and their consequences and concerning the 
ways and means of preventing addiction and 
reducing the risks associated thereto, 
- developing a research strategy on drugs, 
particularly in order to improve knowledge 
concerning the impact of policies targeting 
drug users in the field of public health, and 
concerning the effects of drugs and the use of 
treatment techniques in prevention. 
Recital 15b [new| 
- support lor pilot projects and studies on the 
social factors which may trigger the use of 
drugs; 
f) working to improve training and to step up 
cooperation on the prevention of drug 
dependence and on the reduction of the risks 
associated thereto; 
- seeking to establish drugs prevention more 
firmly as an integral part of the vocational 
training of teachers and youth workers; 
- promote the development of the skills of 
those people likely to come into contact with 
groups of users or potential users, and support 
the development of additional training 
programmes, of educational material and 
modules for people likely to come into contact 
with drug users, including in particular those 
working in the social, health, police and legal 
professions. 
- encouraging a common focus on the policies 
and programmes pursued by the Member 
States to combat the phenomenon of drug 
dependence, with a view to achieving greater 
coordination in this field; 
- support for exchanges of information and 
experience, particularly on a regional cross-
border basis, concerning local prevention 
initiatives, with a view to developing joint 
actions, and support for the organisation of a 
seminar on prevention models and practices in 
towns in different Member States which are 
particularly affected by the problem of drugs 
10 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 579 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 05 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-617-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-96368-9 
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