WRITTEN QUESTION E-1484/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(29 May 2002)

Subject: Trafficking of drugs

Would the Commission agree that the trafficking of drugs, principally cocaine, from South America through the Caribbean is probably the single greatest threat to the stability, democracy and economic and social development of all the countries and territories in the Caribbean region?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2002)

Drugs do indeed constitute a major threat to stability, democracy and economic and social development in the Caribbean. It should be noted, however, that though cocaine traffic accounts for 85 per cent of all income generated by drug trafficking and related activities in the region, locally produced marijuana accounts for the remaining 15 per cent and is a key factor inducing local consumption. Jamaica is one of the world's major producers of marijuana, other significant producers including Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, St. Lucia and Dominica.

Growing levels of drug production, trafficking and use in the region have contributed to higher levels of violent crime by both drug organisations and addicts. In addition, increasing inflows of illegal firearms into the region are associated with the drug trade. Money laundering and drug related corruption has escalated in the region and drug trafficking has serious implications for public expenditure, since public funds have to be diverted from productive activities towards fighting drug related activities.

Conscious of this, the Commission has been giving priority to supporting drug control in the Caribbean region. The Community was the main financing contributor to the 1996-2002 Barbados Plan of Action (EUR 20 million, representing 60 % of the total financing), covering a varied range of areas within a balanced and integrated approach encompassing supply and demand reduction: regional co-ordination mechanisms, maritime co-operation, law enforcement, anti-money laundering, forensic services, control of precursors, epidemiological surveillance and various other fields in demand reduction. Financing resources originated in the 8th European Development Fund (EDF) National and Regional programmes and in Budget Line B7-6310: North-South co-operation in the fight against drugs. It can be anticipated that the 9th EDF Caribbean regional programme will give appropriate focus to drug control, in support of the development and implementation of a Caribbean rooted strategy. Areas of support will include institutional strengthening and capacity building, regional co-ordination in supply reduction including maritime co-operation, demand reduction and inter-regional co-operation.

A more effective approach to drugs control in the Caribbean needs to be framed in the scope of the drugs route (cocaine route), involving therefore the enhancement of co-ordination and co-operation of Caribbean transit countries with Latin American producing countries. This is now being progressively adopted by the Caribbean in their anti-drugs strategy and, as mentioned above, is expected to be one of the elements of support by the Community in its 9th EDF support strategy. Inter-regional collaboration can be facilitated by existing mechanisms for international co-ordination and co-operation, among which is included the Co-ordination and Co-operation Mechanism on Drugs between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean launched in 1998 within the Panama Plan of Action.