WRITTEN QUESTION E-4022/97 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (14 January 1998)

Subject: Combating the narcotic substance Ecstasy

At the recent European Parliament conference of 27 and 28 November 1997 on synthetic narcotic substances, papers were given and research presented highlighting the grave danger to our young people from the use of the substance 'Ecstasy'. This substance, as well as other synthetic narcotic substances, is being produced in large quantities in factories within the European Union, is sold very cheaply and is accessible to very young people, while its use has a devastating effect on the physical and mental health and development of young people.

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to stop the operation of illegal Ecstasy factories in the European Union and to promote widespread information campaigns warning young people against the dangers of using this substance?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (10 February 1998)

The Commission is grateful to the Honourable Member for drawing attention to the findings of the conference on synthetic drugs which was jointly organized by the Parliament, the Luxembourg Presidency and the Commission on 27-28 November 1997. The importance of synthetic drugs is described in the 1997 report of the European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (EMCDDA) and in the Europol drugs unit (EDU) general situation report.

Cooperation at Community level in this area is a matter of priority. Member States' law enforcement agencies are responsible for the detection and the seizing of illicit laboratories. The Commission monitors intra-Community and external trade of chemicals which may be used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and of ecstasy in particular, on the basis of Council Directive 92/109/EEC of 14 December 1992 on the manufacture and the placing on the market of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances ((OJ L 370, 19.12.1992. )) and of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3677/90 of 13 December 1990 laying down measures to be taken to discourage the diversion of certain psychotropic substances ((OJ L 357, 20.12.1990. )).

The implementation of the joint action of the Council of 16 June 1997 concerning the information exchange, risk assessment and the control of new synthetic drugs will necessitate the full cooperation of EMCDDA, EDU, Member States and the Commission.

As for non-scheduled chemical precursors which can be diverted into the illicit manufacture of new synthetic drugs, the Commission has proposed to the Council and to the Parliament an amendment to existing Community legislation to establish a surveillance mechanism based on a voluntary system of reporting from the industry to the authorities of suspected consignments of non-scheduled chemical substances.

The Commission agrees young people should be informed about the dangers of using ecstasy. The Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence is based on the specific requirements of the EC Treaty concerning health protection and disease prevention. It aims to encourage cooperation between Member States, to support their action and to promote coordination between their policies and programmes with a view to preventing the use of all types of narcotics and psychotropic substances, including the new synthetic drugs, and the associated risks.

The programme supports transnational partnerships focusing on health information, education and training projects and better understanding of the factors associated with the consumption of synthetic drugs (such as social representation of these new drugs). The objective is to promote merging of competencies on research, prevention, and treatment of ecstasy users, to provide opportunities to compare the drugs scenes and reactions in the different Member States, to analyse the different perspectives in young people's lives and to see how the social conditions reflect in preventive efforts.

Projects identify common principles as ground work for the definition of research methodology, the production and dissemination of appropriate information for users and non users of designer drugs; peer to peer methods, gender specific approaches and harm reduction. Beside transnational projects addressed to key people in the youth scene or to users, the prevention of designer drugs in the framework of the drug dependence programme is also connected with wider preventive approach such as the forthcoming European drug prevention week (16-22 November 1998). Dedicated to the theme 'Multidisciplinary approach and drug prevention: awareness raising in society and partnerships', the week will highlight health promotion and prevention efforts, quality of intervention, involvement of local actors and the added value of pluridisciplinary and transnational partnerships.