WRITTEN QUESTION E-3452/00 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Annual report on the state of the drugs problem.
Date: 2000-11-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: action programme, activity report, disease prevention, drug addiction, drug traffic, fight against crime, narcotic, social problem, supply and demand

C 163 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

The ending of quarantine for cats and dogs by the UK authorities from January 2000, under an
3.
experimental programme, has eased the situation and allowed the Commission to table this proposal for
harmonisation, which in the past would have been inconceivable. The Commission has thus seized the
opportunity offered by the UK government(cid:146)s historic decision and has proceeded with a harmonisation
operation which it considers useful, necessary and beneficial to the majority.

4.
Finally, the manifestation of a serious risk necessitating emergency measures is covered by the third
paragraph of Article 5 of the proposal, which makes provision for an urgent procedure, in the form of the
adoption of a Commission decision pursuant
to an opinion delivered by the Standing Veterinary
Committee.

(1) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal-health requirements

applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals, COM(2000) 529 final.

(2001/C 163 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3452/00

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Annual report on the state of the drugs problem

In the past few days the 2000 Annual report on the state of the drugs problem in the European Union was
published. It represents an important opportunity to examine for the first time the results of the strategy
for the period 2000-2004 adopted by the European Union at the Helsinki European Council in 1999.

Amongst the conclusions reached in the report are the following:

(cid:129) cannabis remains the most widely available drug in the EU; at least 45 million European citizens have
tried it at least once: it is the primary drug in drug offences and its use is particularly high among the
younger age groups:

(cid:129) amphetamines and ecstasy are the second most commonly used drugs and their use is shifting away

from large dance events to smaller, more diffuse settings;

(cid:129) the use of cocaine is rising and spreading to a broader population;

(cid:129) heroin users are largely adults with serious health, social and psychiatric problems;

(cid:129) HIV and hepatitis A and B prevalence among injecting drug users appears to be stable;

(cid:129) in many European countries policies to combat the drugs problem are placing greater emphasis on
reduction of demand rather than supply, are based on drug prevention schemes and crime deterrence
relying on accurate scientific evidence, and are providing for procedures for the decriminalisation of
offences based on the degree of use and type of drug used.

In view of these facts, does the Commission believe that it is necessary to adopt direct measures and
guidelines for the Member States which are in keeping with the above-mentioned trends and tailored to
the new characteristics of the drugs problem?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

The information presented in the 2000 Annual report of the European monitoring center for drugs and
drug addiction (Emcdda), as well as information from previous reports, has been carefully examined and
utilised in drafting the EU Drug Strategy (1) and the Union action plan on drugs 2000-2004 (2). Thanks to
these reports the Commission now has a much more accurate and reliable picture of the drug problems in
Union.

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/125

The Union action plan on drugs provides a general framework for drug-related actions and policies in the
Union. It promotes a balanced and integrated approach to drug issues in which the reduction of the
demand and supply for drugs and action against drug trafficking are seen as mutually reinforcing elements.

The Commission takes into account the elements and trends underlined by the Honourable Member in the
implementation of the Union action plan on drugs. In particular, they will be considered when selecting
projects to be financed under different Community Programmes.

The Community programme on drug prevention has already financed many projects with direct relevance
to the issues raised in the Emcdda report. The Community framework programme for research and
development is also funding drug-related research.

In the area of crime prevention, the Commission has approved, in November 2000, a Communication on
the prevention of crime in the Union (3), in which a global approach and common guidelines are proposed
to prevent both crime and organised crime. This document also proposes a Council Decision for
establishing a programme of incentives and exchanges, training and cooperation for the prevention of
crime (Hippokrates).

(1) Council of the European Union, Brussels, 1 December 1999, 12555/3/99, rev. 3, limitØ Cordrogue 64.
(2) Council of the European Union, Brussels, 7 June 2000/9283/00, limitØ, Cordrogue 32.
(3) COM(2000) 786 final.

(2001/C 163 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3453/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Planned closure of the shop at the European Commission

According to Staff Committee notices, the Commission intends to close the shop reserved for officials
(the Economat). The Economat is not a duty-free shop as the press has alleged but a genuine commercial
undertaking where officials can purchase food and regional specialities in the area where the European
institutions are located.

The Economat is not therefore a shop for the privileged, as shown by the fact that all ministries and public
and private organisations have one. In addition, the European Parliament, during a recent meeting of the
College of Quaestors, also discussed the possibility of opening a shop.

How can the Commission justify any decision to close the Economat?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

One of the main reasons for starting up the Economats in the 1960s was to enable officials and other
agents of the Commission to buy food specialities and other products from their Member State of origin,
which, at that time, were generally were not available locally in Brussels and Luxembourg. As the
Honourable Member points out, the shops have never been privileged sales outlets.

The situation has obviously changed in the years since and the products available at the Economats can
now easily be found in many supermarkets as well as specialist shops. The original justification for the
creation of the Economats is consequently no longer valid.

For some years past, the Commission has pursued the option of inter-institutional co-operation in the
hope that economies of scale would have resulted and permitted more effective use of resources.