Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on an EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-2012 {SEC(2008) 2455} {SEC(2008) 2454} {SEC(2008) 2456}
Date: 2008-09-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: action programme, cooperation policy, drug addiction, drug traffic, fight against crime, international cooperation

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 18.9.2008 
COM(2008) 567 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

to the European Parliament and the Council on an EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-2012 

{SEC(2008) 2455} 
{SEC(2008) 2454} 
{SEC(2008) 2456} 

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Introduction 

Drugs are a major concern for the citizens of Europe and a major threat to the security 
and health of European society. 

In December 2004, the European Council unanimously endorsed the EU Drugs Strategy for 
2005-20121, which aims to achieve a high level of protection, well-being and social cohesion 
by preventing and reducing drug use. 

The  adoption  of  the  Strategy  in  itself  gave  a  clear  signal  that  political  concern  about  drugs 
across the European Union transcends the differences in approach that exist among Member 
States. It confirmed that all Member States subscribe to the same set of basic principles: that 
there should be a balanced approach to reducing the supply and demand for drugs, that this 
should be based on reliable data regarding the nature and extent of the problem, on respect for 
fundamental  rights  and  human  dignity,  and  —  increasingly  —  on  coordinated  and  cross-
border law enforcement aimed at drug traffickers and organised crime. 

The Drugs Strategy also provides the framework for two consecutive four-year Action Plans. 
The first Action Plan (2005-2008)2 set out over 80 actions to help coordinate major areas of 
government intervention in the field of illegal drugs, covering public health, law enforcement, 
customs,  criminal  justice  and  external  relations.  While  implementation  is  often  the 
responsibility of the Member States, the Commission plays an active part in facilitating and 
evaluating  the  work  in  progress,  in  addition  to  monitoring  anti-drug  legislation,  such  as 
Council  Framework  Decision  2004/757/JHA  on  Illicit  Drug  Trafficking,  on  which  it  will 
report  in  mid  2009.  Moreover,  guided  by  the  lessons  learnt  over  the  past  four  years,  the 
Commission  is  now  proposing  a  second  Action  Plan  (2009-2012)  to  be  endorsed  by  the 
Council. 

What has the present Action Plan on Drugs achieved so far?  

The current Plan states as its ultimate aim to: 

‘...  significantly  reduce  the  prevalence  of  drug  use  among  the  population  and  to  reduce  the 
social and health damage caused by the use of and trade in illicit drugs’. ( 

The attached evaluation  report3 is a joint effort by the Commission, the Member States, the 
European  Monitoring  Centre  on  Drugs  and  Drug  Addiction  (EMCDDA),  Europol,  and 
European  NGO  networks  represented  in  the  Civil  Society  Forum.  It  is  the  most  extensive 
assessment of the implementation of EU drug policy to date and shows that the objectives of 
the present Plan haves been partly achieved:  

•  Drug use in the EU remains at high levels. Available data suggest that the use of heroin, 
cannabis and synthetic drugs has stabilised or is declining but that cocaine use is rising in a 
number of Member States. The total number of people in the EU who use drugs — or have 
at some time taken them (‘lifetime prevalence’) — is estimated at 70 million for cannabis, 

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CORDROGUE 77, 22.11.2004. 
OJ C 168, 8.7.2005. 
Commission Staff Working Paper attached in Annex 1. 

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at least 12 million for cocaine, 9.5 million for ecstasy, and 11 million for amphetamines, 
while  at  least  half  a  million  people  are  known  to  be  receiving  substitution  treatment  for 
drugs like heroin. 4 

•  Although  there  is  no  reason  for  complacency,  data  available  for  comparable  countries  in 
other  parts  of  the  world  show  that  the  consumption  of  cannabis,  cocaine,  and 
amphetamines in the EU is significantly lower than, for instance, in the US. The same is 
true for the number of reported HIV infections related to drug injections. 

•  The evaluation also shows that Member States’ drug policies are converging and that there 

is a shift towards underpinning national policies with action plans. 

•  Evidence so far shows that the EU is succeeding in at least containing the complex social 
phenomenon  of  widespread  substance  use  and  abuse  in  the  population,  and  that  it  is 
increasingly focusing on measures to address the harm caused by drugs to individuals and 
society. It is important to note that it has done so in spite of the fact that over the period 
under review the world’s illicit opiate production rose sharply and an unprecedented traffic 
of cocaine has been targeted at the EU. Seen against this background of sharply increased 
supply, the EU’s record of managing the problem emerges in a more positive light. 

•  In terms of international cooperation, there is now better coordination of EU positions in 
international  fora  on  drugs,  as  in  the  UN’s  Committee  on  Narcotic  Drugs  (CND)  for 
instance.  Moreover,  the  EU’s  integrated  and  balanced  approach  to  drugs  is  increasingly 
serving as a model for other countries worldwide. 

The current Action Plan (2005-2008) is an ambitious exercise. While progress has been made 
in many areas, weaknesses have also been identified. 

Policy coordination problems persist in many areas, and even if the quality of information on 
the  EU  situation  regarding  drug  use,  prevention  and  treatment  has  consistently  improved, 
considerable knowledge gaps remain: there is a persistent lack of reliable data on drug supply 
but also on the scope and outcomes of drug-related assistance to third countries. 

How to increase commitment across society to reduce drug use  

Clearly the EU needs to do more to reduce the impact of social and health problems caused by 
drug use. If millions of Europeans have at some stage taken drugs or are doing so right now, 
there is a gap between public policy and public behaviour that no society can afford to ignore. 

There  is  evidence  to  suggest  that  one  of  the  more  (cost-)  effective  approaches  to  deal  with 
drug  use  is  for  public  services  engaged  in  prevention,  treatment,  harm  reduction  and  law 
enforcement,  to  work  together  in  partnership  with  voluntary  organisations  and  service 
providers.  In  other  words,  an  alliance  between  citizens  and  the  institutions  created  by  them 
and for them.  

It is time to put the people of Europe at the centre of policy in this field and to get Europe’s 
citizens  more  involved.  As  a  first  step,  the  Commission  helped  set  up  the  European  Civil 
Society Forum on Drugs, in 2006. To support the implementation of the EU Action Plan on 

4 

EMCDDA Annual Report 2007. 

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Drugs,  the  Commission  will,  during  the  life  of  the  next  Action  Plan,  examine  ways  to 
mobilise all those who wish to take part for a formal commitment to do what is necessary at 
their level and with the means at their disposal to reduce the harm that drugs do to people. An 
idea  to  develop  in  this  respect  is  the  formulation  of  a  ‘European  Alliance  on  Drugs’.  This 
would be a public commitment that could be made by any citizen or group of citizens to raise 
awareness on the risks of taking drugs and support best practices in this field.  

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Towards a new Action Plan on Drugs 2009-2012 

The EU Drugs Strategy deals with a complex phenomenon that requires a long-term approach 
to bring about change. It is centred on the two key dimensions of drug policy, drug demand 
reduction  and  drug  supply  reduction,  complemented  by  three  cross-cutting  themes, 
coordination, international cooperation and information, research and evaluation. 

To support the Strategy, the Commission proposes a new Action Plan on Drugs (2009-2012), 
which  builds  on  the  existing  framework  but  also  on  the  lessons  learned  over  the  past  four 
years. It identifies the following priorities: 

1. 

Reducing the demand for drugs and raising public awareness 

We  need  to  further  improve  the  effectiveness  of  measures  to  reduce  drug  use  and  its 
consequences. This includes particular attention for vulnerable groups and the prevention of 
poly-drug use (combined use of illicit and licit substances, in particular alcohol).  

2. 

Mobilising European citizens to play an active part.  

The  Commission  proposes  to  launch  a  process  of  consultation  with  the  Member  States  and 
European  civil  society  to  work  towards  the  acceptance  of  a  European  Citizens'  Alliance  on 
Drugs. Such a Alliance would contain a commitment and a set of principles to guide citizens 
to deal  with  drug-related issues as they may arise in their immediate environment. It would 
have  to  be  compatible  with  national  laws  and  customs  and  should  give  positive  action  and 
self-empowerment a place in the overall quest for a safer and healthier society. 

3. 

Reducing the supply of drugs 

We  need  more  effective  law  enforcement  at  EU  level  to  counter  drug  production  and 
trafficking, making full use of the capacities of Europol and other EU structures, based on an 
intelligence-led approach. More coordinated operations via regional security platforms should 
be supported. 

4. 

Improving international cooperation 

The effectiveness of EU, the world's major donor in the global fight against drugs and in the 
struggle for more sustainable solutions to drug cultivation, would benefit greatly from better 
coordination of national and Community policies.  

5. 

Improving understanding of the problem 

We  need  to  increase  our  knowledge  of  all  aspects  of  drug  use  through  more  and  better 
coordinated research and data, including data on drug-related crime and on the way the illicit 
drug supply market works. 

The Action Plan that follows is intended as a framework to implement these priorities and to 
add European value where appropriate. 

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I. COORDINATION 

Main priority: more efficient policy development and implementation. 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicators 

1.  Ensure  that  a  balanced  and  integrated 
approach,  with  due  regard  for  fundamental 
rights, is reflected in national policies and in the 
EU  approach  towards  3rd  countries  and  in 
international fora 

1.Member States and EU Institutions to effectively coordinate 
drugs policy to reflect the objectives of the EU Drugs Strategy 
2005-2012 and this Action Plan 

party 

Ongoing 

MS 

COM 

Council 

2. Ensure effective coordination at EU level 

2.  The  Council’s  Horizontal  Drugs  Group  (HDG)  to  take  a 
pro-active role in fulfilling its coordination mandate 

Ongoing 

Council 

Objectives of the EU Drugs 
Strategy and Action Plans 
included in national policies 

Drug policy at EU level 
reflects the objectives of the 
Drugs Strategy 

Relevant Council Working 
Parties5 inform/involve HDG 
actively and vice versa 

3. The Commission and Council to ensure coherence between 
internal and external aspects of involvement in drug policy 

2011 

COM 

Council 

Coherence between internal 
and external drug policy 
realised 

4. The Council to examine the state of the drug problem once a 
year, on the basis of the Commission’s annual progress review, 
and relevant annual reports from the EMCDDA, Europol 

Ongoing  

Council 

Council conclusions 

COM 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

3.  Ensure  effective  coordination  at  national 
level  

5.  Presidency  to  convene  meetings  of  the  national  drugs 
coordinators or their equivalents on a regular basis to advance 
coordination on specific and urgent issues requiring action 

Twice 
annually 

PRES 

MS 

Effective impact on policy 
coordination 

6.  Member  States  to  examine  inter-departmental  coordination 
on drugs to ensure that coordinated positions are presented at 

Ongoing 

MS 

Member States’ contributions 
in the HDG and other working 

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These  Council  Working  Parties  include:  Police  and  Customs  Working  Parties,  the  Multidisciplinary  Group  on  Organised  Crime,  the  Health  Working  Group,  External 
Affairs Working Groups and the Economic Issues Working Group. 

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4.  Ensure  the  participation  of  civil  society  in 
drugs policy 

7.  The  Commission  to  seek  at  least  once  a  year  feedback  on 
drugs policy from the Civil Society Forum on Drugs 

Ongoing 

COM 

Forum meets at least once a 
year 

EU  level  and  that  the  objectives  of  the  EU  Action  Plan  are 
relayed to the most effective implementing level 

Council 

groups are coherent 

8.  Member  States  to  involve  civil  society  at  all  appropriate 
levels  of  drugs  policy,  in  accordance  with  national  practices, 
on  the  basis  of  a  ‘European  Alliance  on  Drugs’  designed  to 
mobilise  civil  society  and  the  public  sector  in  an  awareness-
raising campaign of the risks of drug taking 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

Commission reports outcome 
to HDG 

Civil society takes part in 
national dialogue 

Input received from civil 
society 

Wide commitment to Alliance  

II. DEMAND REDUCTION 

Main priority: improving the quality and effectiveness of measures to reduce drug use and its consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups. 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator 

5.  Prevent  the  use  of  drugs  and  the  risks 
associated with it 

9.  To  systematically  make  available  evaluated  universal 
prevention  strategies 
in  different  settings  (e.g.  schools, 
workplace,  and  prison).  Prevention  should  also  cover  poly-
drug  use  (combined  use  of  illicit  and  licit  substances,  in 
particular alcohol) as well as drugs and driving. 

Party 

Ongoing 

MS 

10.  To  implement  targeted  programmes  to  prevent  or  delay 
first  use  of  drugs 
innovative 
interventions 

through  evaluated  and 

Ongoing 

MS 

Increased availability of 
evaluated programmes and 
comprehensive strategies in 
MS 

Prevalence of youth drug use 
& perception of peer drug use 

Increased availability of 
evaluated programmes in MS 
targeting first use 

Prevalence of youth drug use 

Age of first use 

6.  Prevent  problem  use  of  drugs  —  including  11.  To  further  develop  early  detection  and  intervention  Ongoing 

MS 

Establishment of baseline data 

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injecting  drug  use  — 
prevention 

through 

targeted 

techniques  and  implement  evaluated  selective  prevention  for 
vulnerable  groups  at  high  risk  of  developing  problem  drug 
use through early detection and intervention 

7.  Enhance  the  effectiveness  of  drug  treatment 
and 
the 
availability, accessibility and quality of services 

rehabilitation 

improving 

by 

12. To further develop and implement evaluated prevention for 
specific  high-risk  groups  of  (poly-)drug  users  at  risk  of 
progressing  to  problem  drug  use,  by  offering  low-threshold 
access  to  counselling,  problem  behaviour  management  and 
brief intervention 

Ongoing 

MS 

13.  To  further  develop  and  implement  evidence-based  drug 
treatment  options  covering  a  variety  of  psychosocial  and 
pharmacological  approaches,  corresponding  to  the  needs  of 
drug users (including relevant treatment adapted to new drugs 
or types of use) 

Ongoing 

MS 

14.  To  develop  and  implement  rehabilitation  and  social 
reintegration policies and services based on best practices that 
prevent relapse and reduce social exclusion and stigmatisation 

Ongoing 

MS 

15.  To  publicise  the  existence  of  treatment  and  rehabilitation 
services at national, regional and local level for potential target 
audiences 

Ongoing 

MS 

8. Enhance the quality and effectiveness of drug 
demand  reduction  activities,  taking  account  of 
specific  needs  of  drug  users  according  to 
gender, cultural background, age, etc. 

16.  To  develop,  implement  and  exchange  good  practice 
guidelines/quality  standards  for  prevention,  treatment,  harm 
reduction and rehabilitation interventions and services 

2009-2012   MS 

COM 

EMCDDA 

on problem use 

Trends in problem drug use 

Increased availability of 
outcome-evaluated, targeted 
prevention programmes in MS 

Establishment of baseline data 
on problem use 

Trends in problem use 

Increased availability of 
outcome-evaluated, targeted 
prevention programmes in MS 

Trends in new treatment 
demand and retention 

Increased availability of 
diversified and evidence-based 
treatment in MS 

Increased availability of 
rehabilitation and reintegration 
programmes in MS 

Information strategies in place 
in MS 

Public register of services 
available (e.g. internet portal) 

Existence of relevant 
guidelines and/or quality 
standards 

Level of implementation of 
guidelines and/or standards 

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17.  To  develop  an  EU  consensus  on  quality  standards  and 
bench-marks  for  prevention,  treatment,  harm  reduction  and 
rehabilitation  interventions  and  services  taking  into  account 
needs of specific groups 

18. Member States to survey the availability and effectiveness 
of  prevention,  treatment,  harm  reduction  and  rehabilitation 
services, in responding to specific needs. The Commission — 
to  develop  a 
with 
methodological framework for this type of survey 

the  EMCDDA  — 

the  support  of 

9.  Provide  access  to  health  care  for  drug  users 
in  prison  to  prevent  and  reduce  health-related 
harms associated with drug abuse 

19.  To  develop  and  implement  prevention,  treatment,  harm 
reduction  and  reintegration  services  for  people  in  prison, 
equivalent  to  services  available  outside  prison.  Particular 
emphasis  to  be  placed  on  follow-up  care  after  release  from 
prison 

20. Member States to endorse and implement in prison settings 
indicators  to  monitor  drug  use,  drug-related  health  problems 
and  drug  services  delivery  on  the  basis  of  a  methodological 
framework  developed  by  the  Commission  –  with  the  support 
of the EMCDDA 

10. Ensure access to harm reduction services, in 
order  to  reduce  the  spread  of  HIV/AIDS, 
hepatitis C and other drug-related blood-borne 
infectious diseases and to reduce the number of 
drug-related deaths in the EU 

21. To systematically provide access to, and improve coverage 
of, harm reduction services as an integral part of drug demand 
interventions  of  proven 
reduction,  making  full  use  of 
effectiveness where available6 

2012 

MS 

Council 

COM 

EMCDDA 

2012 

MS 

Council 

COM 

EMCDDA 

Ongoing 

MS 

Ongoing 

MS 

Council 

COM 

EMCDDA 

EU consensus paper proposed 
& follow-up 

Nr. of Member States that 
complete the survey 

Drug policies implemented 
specifically for delivery of 
drug services in prison and 
follow-up of ex-prisoners 

Decrease in drug-related health 
problems in prison 

Ongoing 

MS 

COM to report on progress 

Decrease in drug-related 
infectious diseases 

Decrease in Nr. of drug-related 
deaths 

Improved coverage of harm 
reduction services 

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EN 

This action builds on the Council Recommendation (2003/488/EC) on the prevention and reduction of health-related harm associated with drug dependence. 

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III. SUPPLY REDUCTION 

Main priority: a measurable improvement in the effectiveness of law enforcement in the field of drugs at EU level. Europol, Eurojust and other EU 
structures to fully exercise the respective roles for which they were created, in the interest of efficiency, EU compatibility of national initiatives, intra-EU 
coordination, and economies of scale. 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator 

Party 

effective 
11.  Enhance 
the  EU 
cooperation 
production and trafficking 

in 

law 
enforcement 
to  counter  drug 

22. To target those criminal organisations posing the most serious 
threat  by  making  full  use  of  the  intelligence-led  concept  of  the 
European Criminal Intelligence Model (ECIM) and its component 
parts 

Nr. of criminal organisations 
targeted by MS 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

Eurojust 

Council 

23. To increase the number of multidisciplinary law enforcement 
operations,  involving  Europol  where  appropriate,  as  well  as 
police,  customs  and  border  control  services,  through  joint 
investigation teams (JIT) and joint customs operations (JCO) 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

Eurojust 

Increase in Nr. of drug-
related JITs/ JCOs 

Assessment report on results 
achieved 

24.  To  improve  the  quality  of  intelligence  data  provided  by 
Europol  National  Units  to  Europol's  Drugs  Unit,  with  emphasis 
on the highest levels of organised crime 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol  

Consistency, relevance and 
quality of data and 
intelligence received 

25. To make full use of the COSPOL7 projects (heroin, cocaine, 
synthetic drugs) linked to Europol drug-related projects, including 
coordinated analysis through Analysis Work Files (AWF) 

Ongoing  MS 

Council 

Europol 

Increase in identifiable 
operational results 

26.  The  European  Police  College  (CEPOL)8  to  provide  relevant 
advanced  training  for  senior  police  and  customs  officers  and  for 

Ongoing 

CEPOL 

Curriculum developed for 

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Comprehensive Operational Strategic Planning for the Police. 

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liaison  officers  in  3rd  countries  through  national  police  training 
colleges 

27.  To  make  more  systematic  use  of  Member  State  liaison 
officers  in  third  countries  for  the  exchange  of  information  and 
intelligence between MS law enforcement agencies and Europol, 
where appropriate 

28.  To  set  up, where necessary,  regional  security  platforms  (e.g. 
MAOC-N, Baltic Sea TF) to counter emerging threats by means 
of  coordinated  operational  responses.  Such  action 
to  be 
compatible  with  existing  legal  and  operational  arrangements  at 
EU level and based on specific threat assessments (see also action 
42) 

12. Respond rapidly and effectively to emerging 
threats (e.g. emerging drugs, new routes) 

MS 

drug law enforcement 

Additional relevant training 
included in CEPOL AWP 

Nr. of training courses 

Nr. of officers trained 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

Increase in international 
operational law enforcement 
cooperation 

Ongoing  MS 

Council 

Europol  

Timely operational response 
putting in place measures to 
pro-actively handle risk and 
minimise threats 

13.  Reduce  the  manufacture  and  supply  of 
synthetic drugs 

29. The EU to focus on coordinated and joint efforts between the 
Member States most highly exposed to particular drug production 
/ 
in  cooperation  with  Europol  as 
appropriate 

trafficking  phenomena, 

30.  Member  States  to  actively  maintain  law  enforcement 
cooperation/joint operations in this area and to share intelligence 
and  best  practices.  Optimal  use  to  be  made  of  Europol's  Project 
SYNERGY and the related COSPOL initiative 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

Council 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

Council 

Increase Nr. of criminal 
operations disrupted 
(seizures, changing 
trafficking behaviour) 

Operational and strategic 
outcomes of MS action 
taken 

Increase in Nr. of joint 
projects initiated/ completed  

Increase in Nr. of dismantled 
production facilities reported 
to EILCS 

Nr. of SYNERGY reports 

8 

European Police College; Council Decision 2005/681/JHA. 

EN 

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14.  Reduce  the  diversion and  trafficking  in  the 
EU  of  chemical  precursors  used  for  the 
manufacturing  of  illicit  drugs,  in  particular 
synthetic drug precursors 

31. To adopt and implement an EU-wide system for the forensic 
profiling  of  synthetic  drugs  based  on  the  experience  gained 
through  projects  such  as  SYNERGY  and  CHAIN,  the  structure 
and  expertise  of  Europol  and  the  Commission’s  Joint  Research 
Centre,  and  ongoing  MS 
law  enforcement  activities  and 
experience in this area 

32. The EU to maintain a clear and unified position on this matter 
at  international  level  and  within  the  UN,  based  on  existing 
legislation and cooperative practices with the private sector 

2012  

COM  

Europol 

MS 

Ongoing 

COM 

Council 

MS 

33. Customs services to integrate precursor controls at a strategic 
level, enhancing the effectiveness of border control management, 
and  to  coordinate  more  closely  with  other  law  enforcement 
agencies engaged in anti-drug operations (mutual support) 

Ongoing  MS 

34.  The  EU  to  give  full  support  to  international  operational 
cooperation aimed at preventing the diversion of drug precursors, 
such as the INCB-led projects PRISM and COHESION 

Ongoing 

COM 

35.  To  evaluate  EU  drug  precursor  control  legislation  and  its 
implementation 

2010 

MS 

COM 

MS 

generated 

System in place and 
operational  

Effective coordination 
through the relevant Council 
committees 

Joint EU positions in 
international fora 

Improvement in precursor 
control, detection, seizure 
and profiling situation 
compared with 2008 

Increase in Nr. of stopped 
and/or seized shipments 

Evaluation completed 

36.  The  EU  to  develop,  where  possible,  cooperation  agreements 
with principal identified  source  countries of  main  synthetic  drug 
precursors 

Ongoing 

COM 

Agreements established 

15.  Reduce  the  impact  on  society  of  organised 
crime active in drug production and trafficking 

37. To facilitate the confiscation and recovery of the proceeds of 
drug-related crime across the EU by strengthening the policies on 
confiscation and asset recovery at EU and national level 

2012 

Reduction of illicit 
shipments of drug precursors 
from the countries 
concerned 

COM Communication 
adopted 

Legal instruments proposed 
and adopted 

MS 

COM 

Council 

EN 

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EP 

Assessments of assets seized 

38.  To  support  the  establishment  of  effective  Asset  Recovery 
Offices in the Member States through the creation of an informal 
platform.  To  support 
the  Europol's 
investigations 
Criminal Assets Bureau 

through 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

Europol 

Platform established and 
working effectively 

Increase in No. of supported 
investigations relating to 
asset tracing and 
identification 

Increase in Nr. and value of 
cash and assets confiscated 

IV. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 

Main priority: Improve the effectiveness of EU cooperation with third countries and international organisations in the field of drugs through closer 
coordination of policies within the EU. Promoting the consistent projection worldwide of the European balanced approach to the drugs problem. 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator 

16.  Systematically  include  EU  drug  policy 
concerns  in  relations  with  third  countries  and 
regions  where  appropriate  and  within  the 
broader  development  and  security  agenda,  To 
do  so  on  the  basis  of  strategic  planning  and 
coordination between all actors concerned 

39.  To  ensure  that  EU  relations  with  third  countries  reflect  the 
objectives of the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plans, based on 
the  principle  of  shared  responsibility  and  with  due  regard  to 
human rights 

Party 

Ongoing  MS 

COM 

Drug policy priorities 
increasingly reflected in 
relations with third countries 

40.  To  improve  the  effectiveness  of  existing  mechanisms  on 
drugs  such  as  the  Cooperation  and  Coordination  Mechanism 
between the EU and LAC, the EU-Andean Specialised Dialogue 
and 'Drug Troikas’, by identifying specific areas of cooperation 

41.  In  line  with  the  EU's  political  decisions  and  strategies  and 
with  the  support  of  the  MS  and  EC  assistance  programmes,  to 
address  drug-related  concerns  in  producer  countries  and  those 
along  (emerging)  trafficking  routes  through  projects  aimed  at 
reducing the demand for and the supply of drugs and preventing 
the  diversion  of  chemical  precursors.  The  assistance  is  to  be 
linked to the drug action plans between the EU and third countries 

Ongoing 

Council 

COM 

Cooperation initiatives 
established and implemented 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

Drug policy priorities 
reflected in projects funded 

Projects funded reflect 
balance between demand 
and supply reduction 

Synergies established 

EN 

13 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
and regions (see Actions 46 and 50) 

42.  To  step  up  regional  and  intra-regional  cooperation  to  reduce 
the  demand  for  and  supply  of  drugs  in  third  countries  with  the 
support  of  MS  and  EC  funding  programmes,  such  as  the 
Development  Cooperation  Instrument  and  the  Regional  Strategy 
Papers, 
the  European 
Neighbourhood Policy Instrument 

for  Stability  and 

Instrument 

the 

Ongoing 

COM  

MS 

43.  To  promote  alternative  livelihoods  to  drug  cultivation, 
respecting human rights, involving local communities, taking into 
account their specific circumstances and needs 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

between MS and EC funding 
programmes 

New inter-regional 
cooperation initiatives 
established and implemented 

Synergies established 
between MS and EC funding 
programmes 

Increase in Nr. and overall 
budget of projects funded 

No of projects in line with 
the EU approach on 
Alternative Development 
(9597/06, CORDROGUE 
44, 18.05.2006) 

44.  In  the  interest  of  coordination  to  establish  a  monitoring 
mechanism on EU drug-related assistance given to third countries 

45. To carry out a survey of the scope and outcome of EC drug-
related projects in 3rd countries 

46.  To update and  implement  the  EU  Drug Action Plans  for  the 
Central Asian Republics9; and Latin America and the Caribbean10 

Annual 

Council 

Mechanism established 

MS 

COM 

Overview of drug-related 
EC and MS projects in 3rd 
countries 

2010 

COM 

Survey carried out 

Ongoing  MS 

Priorities identified 

COM 

Level of implementation of 
the Action Plans 

the 
an 

47.  To  ensure  better  coordination  and  continuity  between  the 
HDG and MS delegations to the United Nations Commission on 

2009 

Council 

Liaison official appointed 

17.  Strengthen  EU  coordination 

in 
and  promote 

multilateral 

context 

9 
10 

12353/02; CORDROGUE 78; 25.9.2002. 
7163/1/99; CORDROGUE 19; 15.4.1999; Port of Spain Declaration, 23.5.2007. 

EN 

14 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
integrated and balanced approach 

Narcotic  Drugs  (CND),  through  the  assignment  of  a  permanent 
liaison official 

MS 

Coordination between 
Vienna delegations and 
HDG strengthened 

18. Support the candidate and stabilisation and 

association process countries 

48. To prepare, coordinate and adopt EU common positions and 
joint resolutions in the CND 

49.  To  present  an  EU  position  in  the  high-level  segment  of  the 
52nd CND on the evaluation of and follow-up to UNGASS '9811, 
reflecting the fundamental principles of EU drugs policy 

50.  To  provide  the  necessary  technical  and  other  assistance  to 
these countries to familiarise them with the EU acquis in the field 
of drugs. and to assist them in carrying out the required actions, 
including those adopted in the drug action plan with the Western 
Balkans12 

Ongoing 

PRES 

Nr. of joint EU resolutions 

MS 

COM 

2009 

Council 

MS 

COM 

Ongoing  MS 

COM 

Council 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

EU common positions 
supported by other regions 

EU position reflected in UN 
Political Declaration 

Countries increasingly 
complying with EU acquis 

Nr. and quality of projects 
completed 

Advancement of dialogue 
and/or cooperation with 
relevant EU agencies 

Level of implementation of 
action plans 

19.  To  improve  cooperation  with  European 
Neighbourhood Policy countries 

improve 

51.  To 
the  dialogue  on  drugs  with  European 
Neighbourhood Policy countries in a bilateral or regional context, 
in particular through subcommittees 

Ongoing  MS 

Effective result of dialogue 

COM 

11 
12 

Political Declaration (resolution S-20/2, annex) of the twentieth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly. 
5062/2/03, CORDROGUE 3; 3.6.2003. 

EN 

15 

EN 

 
  
  
 
                                                 
52.  The  Commission  to  encourage  these  countries  to  use  the 
European  Neighbourhood  Policy  Instrument  to  implement  the 
drug sections of the ENP Action Plans 

Ongoing 

COM 

Nr. of drug-related projects 
implemented under the ENP 
Instrument 

EN 

16 

EN 

 
  
 
V. INFORMATION , RESEARCH, & EVALUATION 

Main priority: improving the understanding of all aspects of the phenomenon of drug use in order to expand the knowledge base for public policy and raise 
awareness among citizens of the social and health implications of drug use, and to carry out research. 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator 

20.  Expand  the  knowledge  base 
in 
field  of  drugs  by 
promoting research 

the 

53. The Council and Commission to identify future EU research priorities in 
the field of illicit drugs and the mechanisms needed in order to generate new 
knowledge,  to develop  new  approaches  and  technologies and  to  strengthen 
research cooperation in the EU 

2009 

Party 

MS 

COM 

EMCDDA 

the  exchange  of 
21.  Ensure 
accurate 
and  policy-relevant 
information  in  the  field  of  illicit 
drugs 

54.  Member  States  to  continue  to  provide  Reitox13  National  Focal  Points 
(NFP) with the necessary resources. NFPs to contribute to the EMCDDA on 
the basis of agreed standards 

Ongoing  MS 

22.  Further  develop  instruments 
to monitor the drug situation and 
the effectiveness of responses to it 

55.  To  further 
the  five  EMCDDA  key 
epidemiological  indicators  and  the  development  of  new  indicators  and 
measures in drug demand reduction 

improve  and 

implement 

2012 

MS 

EMCDDA 

COM 

Research priorities established 

Mechanisms identified and put 
in place 

Exchange of data required for 
monitoring & evaluation 
purposes 

MS Reitox funding and other 
resources match requirements 

NFPs contribute according to 
agreed standards 

Increase compliance of MS with 
implementation criteria for key 
indicators 

Improvement in treatment 
demand and problem use14 
indicators 

Indicators/measures for 
rehabilitation and reintegration 

13 
14 

Réseau Européen d'Information sur les Drogues et les Toxicomanies 
EMCDDA indicator to be brought into line with international standards on problem drug use (DSM-V/ ICD-10). 

EN 

17 

EN 

 
  
 
                                                 
56.  To  develop  indicators  for  the  collection  of  policy-relevant  data  on  the 
illicit drug market and law enforcement and to develop a strategy to collect 
them 

Ongoing 

COM 

Indicators identified 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

Council 

MS 

COM 

EMCDDA 

MS 

Implementation strategy 
developed 

Analytical instruments 
developed 

More accurate analysis of drug 
situation 

Assessment presented & 
possible follow-up 

57. To develop analytical instruments to better assess the effectiveness and 
impact of drug policy 

2010 

58.  To  assess  the  effectiveness  of  Council  Decision  2005/387/JHAon  the 
information  exchange,  risk  assessment  and  control  of  new  psychoactive 
substances 

2010 

COM 

Council 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

EMEA 

Ensure 

23. 
evaluation of drug policy  

the 

ongoing 

59. Europol to assess the delivery of crime data and information by Member 
States 

Annual 

MS 

Europol 

Qualitative assessment of data 
delivered 

60. Member States to evaluate national drug policies on a regular basis 

Ongoing  MS 

Nr. Evaluated drug policies 

61. To present an annual progress review to the Council and the European 
Parliament  on  the  implementation  of  the  Action  Plan,  and  to  present 
adapted/improved  indicators  and  reporting  mechanisms  for  monitoring  and 
evaluation where appropriate and necessary 

Annual 

COM 

62.  To  have  an  external  evaluation  carried  out  of  the  implementation  and 
impact  of  the  EU  Drugs  Strategy  2005-2012  and  EU  Drugs  Action  Plan 
2009-2012, followed by a reflection period prior to follow-up 

2012 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

MS 

COM 

Council 

MS 

Annual progress review 
delivered 

Availability of relevant 
indicators  

Assessment of achievement of 
individual actions 

The impact on the overall drug 
situation is known 

EN 

18 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
EN 

19 

EN