WRITTEN QUESTION E-4109/00 by Ilka Schröder (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Annual report of the EMCDDA ‐ pill testing.
Date: 2001-01-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, action programme, activity report, competence of the Member States, drug addiction, narcotic, testing

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/137

can the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware of this escalation in violence and killings in the area mentioned?

2. whether it is aware of the fact that most of the local communities in the Neapolitan hinterland (cid:129)
in a highly built-up area (cid:129) still have neither
communities each with over 30 000 residents,
a carabinieri (military police) barracks or a police station, whereas in fact technologically advanced
special security measures should be adopted in order to ensure a greater level of control over the area?

3. whether, at this stage, it still considers that the strategies to combat petty urban crime adopted to date

at both Community and national levels are working?

4. whether it therefore considers it useful to support and propose a system for exchanging experience

and good practice in the field of prevention?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2001)

The events referred to in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question have not been brought to the Commission(cid:146)s
attention, although it is aware that the situation in some parts of the Naples conurbation continues to give
cause for concern in spite of the efforts of the local and national authorities. At the recent Forum for
Security and Democracy, held in Naples on 7, 8 and 9 December 2000, the Italian State Secretary for
Security, the President of the Campania region and the Mayor of Naples referred to the difficulties
encountered in combating crime in all its forms in that part of Italy.

Nor is the Commission familiar with the detailed organisational arrangements for policing the areas
referred to by the Honourable Member. These arrangements do not fall within the Commission(cid:146)s remit but
are a matter for the Italian authorities.

But strategies to combat urban petty crime now form a major part of the Union(cid:146)s justice and home affairs
policy. As the Honourable Member is aware, the prevention priorities laid down by the 1999 Tampere
juvenile and drug-related crime. It was also decided at Tampere to
European Council included urban,
encourage networking and exchanges of good practice between crime prevention bodies. Several initiatives
have been launched since then with a view to putting this into practice.
In December 2000 the
Commission presented a communication on crime prevention (1) and a proposal for a decision establishing
a programme of incentives and exchanges known as (cid:145)Hippocrates(cid:146) (1). At the same time, France and Sweden
presented a proposal for a decision establishing a European crime prevention network, which is currently
being examined by the Council. Parliament will be consulted on these texts pursuant to Article 39 TEU.

(1) COM(2000) 786 final.

(2001/C 187 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4109/00

by Ilka Schr(cid:246)der (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 January 2001)

Subject: Annual report of the EMCDDA (cid:129) (cid:145)pill testing(cid:146)

The annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction refers on page 9 to
(cid:145)pill testing(cid:146). The procedure is also known as (cid:145)drug checking(cid:146). It is used in Austria, the Netherlands and
Germany, for instance. The Centre says that the implementation of these preventive measures is becoming
more professional.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

How does the Commission view (cid:145)drug checking(cid:146)?

Does it share the Centre(cid:146)s assessment? What role should permissive drug prevention measures of this kind
play in the Commission(cid:146)s preventive strategy?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

First, it should be stressed that (cid:145)drug checking(cid:146), also referred to as on-the-spot toxicological pill tests, falls
within the competence of the Member States. The Commission is not involved in the implementation of
such measures.

The Union Action Plan on Drugs (2000-2004) (1) encourages the Member States and the Commission to
further develop innovative approaches to the prevention of the abuse of synthetic drugs, taking into
the specificity of synthetic drug users. Although not mentioned in the plan, on-the-spot
account
toxicological pill tests may form a part of a preventive approach provided that it is allowed by the
legislation of the Member States.

The Commission is aware of both positive and negative arguments as to whether on-the-spot toxicological
pill tests contributes to reducing the risks and increasing responsible behaviour among users. It is essential
that such testing occurs in combination with the provision of information and on-the-spot counselling in
order to achieve a positive outcome, thereby addressing the risks involved with the use of drugs in general
rather than drawing a distinction between (cid:145)safe(cid:146) and (cid:145)dangerous(cid:146) drugs.

Finally, on-the-spot toxicological pill tests can give a rapid indication of what substances and ingredients
are present on the black market and are being used in particular settings. Such information is of value for
epidemiological purposes and/or as the basis for specific warning measures.

Research is insufficient but the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction has commis-
sioned a study on on-site pill-testing interventions in the Community. This research will draw up an
inventory of existing on-site pill-testing programmes and examine their objectives, target groups, methods
and pitfalls to assess how prevention and risk-reduction measures can be tied in with (cid:145)drug checking(cid:146) work.
The results of the study are expected soon.

(1) COM(1999) 239 final.

(2001/C 187 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4115/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 January 2001)

Subject: Murders in Colombia

Last summer, Afrocolombian communities and particularly, that of Buenaventura, issued warnings about
threats from paramilitary groups; but nothing whatever was done to prevent the murders which followed,
and on 6 and 9 September, paramilitaries killed a total of 27 members of the Afrocolombian communities
of Triana, Zaragoza and Las Palmas.

Fresh paramilitary intervention is about to take place along the River Yurumangui, and also on the peasant
reservation of Calamar in Guaviare, according to the local mayor, JosØ GermÆn Olarte Palomino.

Given its relationship with the Colombia Government and the pressing nature of the situation, what can
the Commission do to prevent these killings?