Opinion the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the 'Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on 'A European Union Action Plan to Combat Drugs (2000-2004)''
Date: 1999-11-18
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU aid, drug addiction

29.2.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 57/87

Opinion the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the ‘Commission to the
Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions on “A European Union Action Plan to Combat Drugs (2000-2004)”’

(2000/C 57/14)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Commission Communication on a European Union Action Plan to Combat Drugs
(COM(1999) 239 final);

having regard to the Bureau’s decision of 15 September in accordance with the 5 paragraph of Article
265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community to issue an opinion on this matter and to
instruct Commission 5 (Social Policy, Public Health, Consumer Protection, Research and Tourism) to
prepare this opinion;

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 292/99 rev. 1) adopted by Commission 5 on 6 September 1999
(rapporteur: Mr Battye, UK/PES);

adopted this opinion at its plenary session on 17 and 18 November 1999 (meeting of 18 November).

1.

Introduction

countries. Local and regional authorities, representing local
communities, will play a substantial part in making any such
strategy work.

1.1.
The Committee welcomes the European Commission
proposal for a second European Action Plan. The Committee
recognizes the continuing overall threat that drug addiction
and drug trafficking bring to the citizens of Europe and agrees
that this threat demands a response at all levels from local to
Union.

1.4.
The Committee welcomes the introduction by the
Treaty of Amsterdam of the objective of providing citizens
with a high level of safety within ‘an area of freedom, security
and justice’ and recognises the opportunities to progress
strategies that confront the misuse of drugs within this context.

1.2.
The Committee particularly emphasizes the need for
local and regional authorities in any
the involvement of
strategy that is to address this problem within local communi-
ties. The Committee calls on the European Commission to
recognise the lack of effective mechanisms to ensure that
experience and practice is exchanged between local and
regional authorities in Europe. It believes that the problems of
drug abuse can be tackled more effectively by a combination
of efforts to reduce both the demand for, and the supply of,
illicit drugs and commends the approach set out in the
European Commission’s proposal. The Committee welcomes
the increased priority accorded to the reduction of demand for
drugs than has been the case in the past.

1.3.
The Committee recognises the need for cooperation at
the level of the Union but, as in its opinion on the previous
Action Plan, encourages the Union to assist its members in
creating partnerships within and between individual member

2. Trends in illicit drug use

2.1.
The Committee agrees with the analysis of the trends
in drug use but is particularly concerned at the development
of a new generation of heroin users. The increasing use of
amphetamines is also a concern, particularly the ‘designer’
nature of some derivatives.

2.2.
EU action to cut back illegal-drug demand and con-
sumption have to date paid too little attention to neighbour-
hood services and social schemes in the regions. The Commit-
tee therefore considers that the EU and the member countries
should provide more funds for selective measures, with due
regard for regional requirements and special features. A major
reason for this is the realisation that social living conditions in
the regions have a crucial influence on the appearance, nature
and intensification of drug addition.

C 57/88

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

29.2.2000

3. Action to combat Illicit trafficking

measurements for the impact of this programme and to ensure
that these are available to local and regional initiatives.

3.1.
Despite strenuous efforts the resources devoted to
combating illicit trafficking have not prevented drugs reaching
into the streets and communities. Availability is no longer just
in cities and urban communities, but also in small towns,
villages and rural communities.

3.2.
It is a matter for Member States acting alone and in
partnership to confront this issue, and despite the difficulties,
given the capacity of organised crime networks, to back up
attempts to reduce supply by specific measures to reduce
demand we realise there are obstacles to significant success.
We believe that whilst combating the drugs problem by means
of a series of specific measures should continue, both the
Union and the Member States should make more funds
available for local services and social measures to reduce drugs
consumption.

5.2.
The Committee encourages the Monitoring Centre
(EMCDDA) to further develop its role not only as a dissemina-
tion point for best practice, but to develop advice and guidance
on evaluation and also support the validation of evaluation
instruments. They should make full use of the Reitox network
and ensure that experience gained at local and regional levels
are taken fully into account. Contacts between representatives
of local and regional government in the European Union
should continue to be strengthened so that they can learn
from one another.

The Committee notes that the Monitoring Centre (EMCDDA)
does not yet cover alcohol and tobacco. The Commission are
asked to review this omission.

3.3.
The Committee considers that more progress can be
made in the area of money laundering and putting in
place financial and legal measures to identify profits from
drug-related activity and power to freeze and seize assets
acquired from the profits of illegal drug trading.

6. New challenges

4. The European Union approach: a global, multi-
disciplinary and integrated strategy to fight illicit
drugs

4.1.
The Committee recognizes and supports the need for
the Union to consolidate that which has already been achieved
through Union participation in the broader international fight
against drugs and the use of dedicated Union instruments to
that effect.

4.2.
The Committee welcomes the development of a con-
sensus view between the developing world and the developed
world and the recognition that the drug problem is being
viewed from a broader set of welfare issues addressing the
social and economic dimensions of sustainable development
in both producing and consuming countries.

6.1.
The Committee notes the new challenges that have
been identified and welcomes the opportunities for pre-
accession members to become members of certain Agencies.
The development of a single European Local and Regional
Government Network on Drugs would be of assistance to
these countries, as would the experience of local government
officials, using the Phare Multi-Beneficiary Programme.

6.2.
The Committee believes that attention should be
given to the increasing evidence of the connections between
acquisitive crime and drug misuse.

7. The Treaty of Amsterdam

7.1.
The Committee welcomes the new legal framework
provided by the Treaty. In particular it welcomes the proposals
being set in the context of freedom, security and social justice.
Local and regional authorities have a primary responsibility
for the safety of their communities and would expect to play a
leading role in the delivery of these objectives.

5. Evaluation

5.1.
The Committee understands the difficulty in develo-
ping mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of policies.
Much can be learned from Member States who have developed
national strategies with performance indicators set to measure
outcomes. It will be important to develop a set of robust

7.2.
The Committee welcomes the further step forward in
the field of public health and law enforcement. The part that a
good standard of public health can play is central to a policy
of harm reduction. Also critical to communities is the close
co-operation between police, customs and other judicial
authorities.

29.2.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 57/89

8. Main aims and objectives

8.1.
The Committee agrees that drugs must remain a major
priority and that supply and demand reduction policies should
continue as mutually reinforcing elements. It particularly notes
that the successful implementation of the plan will require
new resources to be available to local and regional government.
The statement of major new strategies and challenges should
include those facing local and regional government. There
needs to be a strong partnership between public health and
public order.

education, it particularly encourages the problem being addres-
sed within a whole school and community approach. Schools
should also be encouraged to develop policies on dealing with
drug related incidents.

The Committee welcomes the decision of the Commis-
9.5.
sion to pay special attention to doping in sport. However, it
considers that this may involve a small group of sportsmen
and women and not large sections of the population. Action
should therefore be taken within the framework of the existing
legislation and by national and international sport associations
(comprehensive vetting and if necessary disciplinary measures).
The proposals to address the problems of doping in sport,
whilst considering the problem not to be as widespread as
suggested.

9. Specific targets

10. Conclusions

9.1.
Information: the Committee recognises the key role to
be played by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and
Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and REITOX national focal points
in collecting, analysing and comparing data on the drugs
for both to establish
phenomenon.
dialogue with local and regional authorities.

It will be important

9.2.
Action on demand-reduction: Whilst the targets set
out in the proposal are reasonable the Committee is concerned
to find no reference to the role of local and regional authorities.
To set targets for the reduction in illicit drug use amongst
young people without clarity as to how this can be best
delivered is unlikely to be effective. For many Member States
the development of actions on demand reduction are a local
and regional authority function. The Committee wishes to
draw attention to the central importance of social exclusion
and the importance of the different age groups and different
risk levels in the various population groups. The Committee
wishes to emphasise that the circulation of the various types
of drug is a social problem which involves all territorial levels
and spans a variety of social groups. The primary route for the
delivery of demand-reduction messages are schools, almost
always provided by local and regional government, and which
are the front line community forum in which the authorities
must also cooperate with parents and other social players.

The Committee is pleased that strategies on drugs will

9.3.
be considered alongside those on alcohol and tobacco.

9.4.

The Committee accepts the objectives set out for

The Committee of the Regions believes that the full
10.1.
potential of local and regional authorities to contribute to the
previous Action Plan was not achieved. The principal reasons
were:

i)

lack of understanding of the services provided by local
authorities to meet the problem of illicit drug use;

ii)

lack of a comprehensive network linking local authorities
that can facilitate the exchange of experience and opportu-
nities to meet;

iii) acknowledgement by the Commission that drugs is not

only a city phenomenon but also affects rural areas;

iv) assumptions by the Commission that demand reduction/-
prevention is delivered within a health agenda, when a
significant proportion is provided by local and regional
authorities through schools, and crime and disorder prog-
rammes.

Given the European Commission’s commitment to
10.2.
giving a high priority to prevention the Committee would
welcome further discussions as to how the resources of local
and regional authorities can be mobilised to fulfil the objectives
of this Action Plan. It is suggested that:

i) The European Commission convene a meeting to discuss
how local and regional government can establish a network
levels of local and regional government on
to link all
preventive measures and issues relating to illicit drugs (see
point 6.1);

C 57/90

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

29.2.2000

ii) The Commission and the COR identify the key services
provided by local and regional authorities that contribute
to the objectives set out in the European Action Plan
2000-2004, and develop a programme of activities to
ensure that these services meet these objectives.

The COR encourages the Commission to maintain the Com-
mittee for the Prevention of Drug Addiction as a support to
the Directorate for Health and Consumer Protection.

Brussels, 18th November 1999.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on ‘Crime and Safety in Cities’

(2000/C 57/15)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

having regard to the Bureau decision of 11 June 1997, under Article 198c(4) of the Treaty establishing
the European Community, to instruct Commission 4 ‘Spatial Planning, Urban Issues, Energy and
Environment’ to draw up an opinion on ‘Crime and safety in Cities’;

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 294/99 rev. 1) adopted unanimously by Commission 4 (meeting
of 7 October 1999) (rapporteur: Ms Tarras-Wahlberg, PSE),

adopted the following opinion unanimously at its 31st plenary session on 17 and 18 November 1999
(meeting of 18 November).

1.

Introduction

1.1.
In Europe there is widespread interest in crime and
public safety and security issues. Two working groups have
been set up, including representatives from several cities. The
Council of Europe has had a ‘Crime and Urban Insecurity’
group for some years now, and the group has produced a
number of reports. Eurocities recently set up a working group
on ‘urban safety’, but it has not yet produced a report.

1.3.
Under Article 29 (ex-Article K.1) of the Amsterdam
Treaty, the EU must aim to provide citizens with a high level
of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice by
developing common action among the Member States in the
fields of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
and by preventing and combating racism and xenophobia.
This is to be achieved by preventing and combating crime,
organised or otherwise, and in particular terrorism, trafficking
in persons and offences against children, illicit drug trafficking
and illicit arms trafficking, corruption and fraud.

1.2.
Article 2 (ex-Article B) of the Amsterdam Treaty states
that the EU must aim to strengthen the protection of citizens’
rights and interests through the introduction of a citizenship
of the Union.

A large proportion of EU measures currently focus on

1.4.
organised and cross-border crime.