WRITTEN QUESTION E-2206/99 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The fight against synthetic drugs: Community initiatives and application of Parliament's resolution.
Date: 1999-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Italy, disease prevention, drug addiction, narcotic, public awareness campaign, toxicology

C 219 E/118

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1.8.2000

How does the Commission intend to obtain more information on social exclusion and extreme poverty?
What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to combat these problems in the light of Article 137
of the Treaty and the undertakings given at the 1995 Copenhagen summit on social development?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2000)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member about the importance of reliable indicators and
statistics for strengthening policies and measures against social exclusion and poverty.

Social exclusion and poverty are multidimensional problems which change over time and therefore require
comprehensive data and indicators which can be analysed over time (longitudinal analysis). Data and
indicators must also be gender sensitive. In many Member States as well as at Community level efforts are
being made to make better use of existing data as well as to improve the data. Following a meeting in
Stockholm in January 1998 of the Community high level think tank on social exclusion and poverty
statistics, a Community task force was established. Its work has resulted in a first set of guidelines,
endorsed by a meeting of directors general of national statistical offices, for improving statistics and
indicators on poverty and social exclusion in Member States as well as at Community level which are now
being implemented (1). Community cooperation can make an important contribution and action has been
increasing and will continue to intensify as a result of the new provisions in the EC Treaty (Article 137
ex-Article 118).

During 1999, the Commission has engaged in broad discussions with all concerned on a Community
strategy against social exclusion and the priorities and scope of Community action to implement such a
strategy. These discussions have confirmed (cid:145)full participation and social integration of all people in society(cid:146)
as the fundamental principle of an inclusive and cohesive society, as also emerged from the world summit
on social development in 1995 in Copenhagen.

Launching the strategy and action will be a priority of the Commission(cid:146)s work programme for 2000. It is
envisaged that the strategy and programme will include the aim of strengthening cooperation on statistics
and indicators.

An issue of (cid:145)Statistics in focus(cid:146) entitled (cid:145)Social exclusion in the Member States(cid:146) will be published shortly by
the Commission.

(1)

Statistical Programming Committee. Document No 98/31/2 - 11/98.

(2000/C 219 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2206/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: The fight against synthetic drugs: Community initiatives and application of Parliament(cid:146)s resolution

There is considerable alarm in Italy once again over traffic in and consumption of synthetic drugs, which
have flooded the market and have taken particular hold amongst young people. Each year 180 000 ecstasy
tablets are confiscated; this represents a mere 5 % of total consumption. In 1998 the European Parliament
(in its resolution on the control of new synthetic drugs (cid:129) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998) urgently raised the issue of
the traffic in and consumption of synthetic drugs and called on both Member States and the Commission
to gather information on such drugs, notably with regard to their impact and side-effects, as well as any
long-term damage they might cause, and to promote research in this field.

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Article 129 of the Amsterdam Treaty stipulates that Community action, which should complement
national policies, should be directed towards reducing the harmful impact of drugs on human health and
should promote information and prevention.

How does the Commission intend to set about curbing and drastically reducing the manufacture and
consumption of synthetic drugs?

Has the Commission ascertained whether all the Member States have brought into effect international
legislation on the control of synthetic drugs?

What has the Commission done to inform European citizens, particularly young people, of the often
irreparable damage caused by the use of such drugs?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1999)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the rising problems caused by
synthetic drugs. In its recent communication of 26 May 1999 on a European action plan to combat drugs
(2000-2004) (1), great attention is given to the increasing trends in use and production of synthetic drugs.

This communication shows that the problem can be reduced using legislation; action against production
and trafficking, including improved co-operation between national authorities and the chemical industry,
in particular concerning precursors; international co-operation; and action on demand reduction through
information and other preventive approaches.

On 16 June 1997, concerned that differences in legislation on new synthetic drugs between the Member
States would lead to legal vacuums and problems of co-operation and control, the Council adopted a joint
action 97/396/JHA regarding the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new synthetic
drugs (2). This joint action establishes an early warning system which identifies and exchanges information
on new synthetic drugs as soon as they arrive on the European market, co-ordinated by the European
monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (Emcdda) and Europol. Although this system is primarily
intended to control the consumption and production of new synthetic drugs, it also constitutes a relevant
and timely tool for the rapid adoption of prevention strategies and activities particularly directed to young
people. So far, risk assessments have been carried out on two synthetic drugs MBDB and 4-MTA.

On 13 September 1999 the Council (3) adopted a unanimous decision defining 4-MTA as a substance to be
placed under control in all Member States, stating that Member States shall take the necessary measures in
accordance with their national laws.

In addition, all Member States have ratified the three relevant United Nations (UN) conventions and report
yearly to the UN on their implementation. The Commission has no information on any non-compliance
with these conventions.

As for preventive measures, the Commission has launched and co-financed three European drug preven-
tion weeks, all with strong elements of realistic information on the risks and damage caused by illegal drug
use. The 1994 and 1998 weeks were specifically addressed actions against new synthetic drugs and young
people.

In addition, a number of large scale preventive networks have been set up on a transnational level, with
financial support from the Commission. Many of these networks produce and distribute information, in
the form of brochures, booklets and on Internet.

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In the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence (1996-2000), new usage
trends, multiple drug dependence and young people have been and still are a priority, stated in the annual
work programmes. Several projects have been funded aiming at improving methods and practices in order
to cope with the use of ecstasy, amphetamine and other synthetic drugs.

The new European Union Drug Strategy (2000-2004) adopted by the Council on 6 December 1999,
underlines that the situation concerning new synthetic drugs requires constant attention.

(1) COM(1999) 239 final.
(2) OJ L 167, 25.6.1997.
(3) COM(1999) 307 final.

(2000/C 219 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2210/99

by GØrard Caudron (PSE) to the Council

(30 November 1999)

Subject: Bank charges on cross-border payments

I wish to voice my exasperation to the Council at the attitude of some banks which continue to apply
scandalously high bank charges on cross-border payments in euros, with an intolerable lack of transpar-
ency.

The Commission is itself seriously concerned with these problems, which jeopardise the proper integration
of the euro into our citizens(cid:146) daily lives, and which show a lack of public-spiritedness among the banking
institutions.

The Commission has accordingly been carrying out a number of investigations since the beginning of the
year, and their results are to say the least unsatisfactory.

It is true that some banks have reduced their costs, but they are still the exception. This is why the
Commission is continuing to carry out (cid:145)surprise(cid:146) investigations, as it did a fortnight ago in the Netherlands,
Ireland and Belgium.

It is clear that there is a lack of will in the banking sector, and also among the Member States. Directive
97/5/EC (1) on cross-border transfers, which provides that costs should be transparent, should have been
if one wishes to consult the national
transposed into national
transposition measures, the reply from all the Member States is the same:
(cid:145)no reference available!(cid:146) And
yet the Member States had two years to transpose the directive into their legal systems. The deadline has
passed, and they are therefore liable to proceedings for failing to carry out their Treaty obligations. When
do the Member States propose to comply with their obligations under Community law?

law by 14 August 1999. However,

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 25.

Reply

(31 January 2000)

According to Article 11 (1) of Directive 97/5/EEC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
27 January 1997 on crossborder credit transfers Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 14 August 1999 at the latest.
They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. According to (2) of the same Article they shall also
communicate to the Commission the text of the main laws, regulations or administrative provisions which
they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

As for the specific question raised by the Honourable Parliamentarian, it is not for the Council to collect
that type of information. As a matter of fact, according to Article 211 of the Treaty it is the task of the
Commission to ensure that the provisions of the Treaty are applied, and, according to Article 226, to take
the necessary measures if it considers that a Member State has failed to fulfil an obligation under the
Treaty.