COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Evaluation of the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 and of the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2013-2016: a continuous need for an EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020
Date: 2017-03-15
Institutions: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, action programme, drug addiction, drug traffic, fight against crime, international cooperation, psychotropic substance

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 15.3.2017  COM(2017) 195 final   COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Evaluation of the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 and of the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2013-2016: a continuous need for an EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020 {SWD(2017) 95 final}  
 
 
I. 

The evaluation and the need for an EU Action Plan on drugs for 2017-2020  

The EU's Drugs Strategy 2013-20201 and its first Action Plan on Drugs 2013-20162  set out a 
political framework and priorities for the EU’s drugs policy. The Strategy provides a single, 
evidence-based  framework  for  tackling  drugs  inside  and  outside  the  EU,  and  is  based  on  a 
five pillar structure consisting of:  

 

two main policy areas  

 
 

the reduction of the drug demand and  
the reduction of drug supply;  

  and three cross-cutting themes:  

  coordination,  
 
 

international cooperation and  
research, information, monitoring and evaluation.  

The  Strategy  requires  the  Commission  to  "initiate  an  external  midterm  assessment  of  the 
Strategy by 2016, in view of preparing a second Action Plan for the period 2017-2020". The 
European  Agenda  on  Security3  provides  for  the  Commission  to  assess  progress  in 
implementing the 2013-2016 Action Plan and decide on that basis whether to propose a new 
Action Plan for 2017-2020. 

With  the  support  of  an  external  contractor4,  the  Commission  conducted  the  mid-term 
assessment  of  the  Strategy  and  the  final  evaluation  of  the  Action  Plan  between  April  and 
November  20165.  Due  to  their  complementarity  and  interconnection,  these  are  presented  in 
the form of a single, comprehensive evaluation. 

This Communication sets out the results of the evaluation6 and proposes the steps to be taken 
next. In view of the overall findings of the evaluation, the Commission has decided to propose 
a  new  Action  Plan  for  the  period  2017-2020.  Building  on  the  results  of  the  evaluation,  and 
given that the strategic framework will not change before 2020, the new proposed Action Plan 
is  an  updated  version  of  the  EU  Action  Plan  on  Drugs  2013-2016  with  a  number  of 
modifications.  It  reflects  the  findings  and  the  recommendations  of  the  assessment  that  the 
Commission  found  pertinent  as  well  as  a  number  of  additional  actions  to  address  new  and 
emerging priorities which have not been sufficiently covered by the previous Action Plan, but 
are relevant in light of challenges EU Member States are currently facing. The Commission's 
proposed draft Action Plan on drugs for 2017-2020 is set out in the annex below7.  

1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  

7  

OJ C 402, 29.12.2012, p. 1. 
OJ C 351, 30.11.2013, p. 1. 
COM(2015) 185. 
A consortium composed of Ernst & Young and RAND Europe.  
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-is-new/work-in-progress/initiatives/984ws_intro_en.htm  
An overview of the results of the evaluation in the form of a Commission Staff Working Document is 
annexed to this Communication - SWD (2017)95. 
It  is  not  the  objective  of  this  Communication  to  update  the  EU  Drugs  Strategy,  which  remains  valid 
until 2020.  The  Commission  considers  that  the  changes  proposed  in  the  new draft  Action Plan  are  in 
line with the existing Strategy. 

2 

 
 
                                                            
II. 

Context 

The  market  for  illicit  drugs  is  the  most  dynamic  criminal  market,  as  confirmed  also  in  the 
European  Agenda  on  Security.  It  is  estimated  that  EU  citizens  spend  over  EUR  24  billion 
every year on illicit drugs8. The human and social costs of drugs addiction are very high and it 
generates  costs  for  public  health  (drug  prevention,  healthcare  and  treatment),  public  safety, 
the environment and labour productivity9. 

As regards drug demand, the use of illicit drugs remains one of the most longstanding threats 
to our societies and, whether directly or indirectly, affects the lives of millions of people. At 
least 83.2 million Europeans have reported that they have used cannabis at least once in their 
lifetime,  while  17.1  and  12  million  respectively  have  tried  cocaine  and  amphetamines.  In 
addition,  1.3  million  adults  are  high-risk  opioid  users.  The  prevalence of  recorded high-risk 
opioid  use  has  stabilised  and  in  some  countries  diminished;  the  prevalence  of  infectious 
diseases  has  been  decreasing,  overall,  since  2013.  It  is  estimated  that  at  least  6  800  people 
died  from  overdoses  in  the  EU  in  201410.  Drug  use  is  largely  concentrated  among  young 
people (15 to 34 years old); an estimated 17.8 million young adults have used drugs in the last 
year.  There  appears  to  have  been  an  increase  in  drug-related  deaths  since  2013  and  no 
recorded decrease in the use of drugs.11  

As regards drug supply, in the past four years, new psychoactive substances (NPSs) have been 
increasingly  available  on  the  open  market  and/or  online,  posing  serious  health  threats.  In 
2015, a total of 98 NPSs were detected, bringing the number of new substances monitored to 
more than 560, of which 70 % have been detected in the last five years. Recorded seizures of 
illicit drugs did not changed substantially in 2013 and 2014 compared with the previous year, 
but a greater total volume of drugs was seized.  

As  regards  coordination,  the  mechanisms  at  EU  level,  most  of  which  pre-date  the  current 
Strategy,  are  effective.  Its  most  prominent  coordination  body,  the  EU  Council's  Horizontal 
Drugs Group (HDG), is considered effective in monitoring the implementation of the Action 
Plan  and  facilitating  dialogue  on  the  state  of  the  drugs  phenomenon  in  Europe.  There  is 
evidence of consistency over time and continuity across presidencies. In addition, all Member 
States reported that civil society organisations were involved in the development, monitoring 
and/or evaluation of their national drugs policy. 

As  regards  international  cooperation,  drug-related  priorities  have  been  incorporated  into  the 
EU’s external policies, strategies and actions targeting third countries and regions. In addition, 
the past years have been an improvement in EU cooperation in order to speak as one voice in 
international fora.  

Finally, regarding information, research, monitoring and evaluation over the last five years the 
EU has provided support to several research projects under a variety of funding mechanisms12 
spanning  various  aspects  of  the  drug  issue  and  related  disciplines.  Sustained  efforts  are 
needed  to  translate  the  priorities  of  the  Strategy  and  Action  Plan  in  research.  The  existence 
and  operation  of  the  Early  Warning  System  for  new  psychoactive  substances  within  the 

8  
9  
10  
11  
12  

EU Drug Markets Report 2016, Europol and EMCDDA. 
European Drug Report 2016, EMCDDA. 
This represents an increase on the 2013 figure. 
The source for all data in the paragraph is the European Drug Report 2016, EMCDDA. 
Including FP7, Horizon 2020 and Health Programme 2014-2020 

3 

 
 
                                                            
European  Monitoring  Centre  for  Drugs  and  Drug  Addiction  (EMCDDA)  is  a  reflection  of 
improved sharing of forensic and toxicological data at EU level over the past years. This early 
warning activity allows the EU to make informed and swift decisions on harmful substances.  

Findings of the mid-term assessment of the Strategy  and the final evaluation of 

III. 
the 2013-2016 Action Plan  

The evaluation covered the period 2013-2016 and all 28 Member States. It addressed both the 
internal and the external dimensions of the Strategy and the Action Plan. It was based on an 
extensive  review  of  relevant  EU  and  Member  State  data  and  documents  relating  to  drug 
markets, trends and drugs strategies13. The findings of the evaluation addressed both the mid-
term  assessment  of  the  EU  Drugs  Strategy  2013-2020  and  the  final  evaluation  of  the  EU 
Action Plan on Drugs 2013-2016. 

Some of the main challenges of the evaluation were the fact that the data collected from all 
Member  States  to  feed  into  it  were  not  always  comparable,  as  well  as  a  lack  of  baseline 
measures  and  up  to  date  statistics  for  certain  areas14.  This  makes  the  attribution  and 
assessment of possible trends and developments to the Strategy and the Action Plan difficult, 
which has had an impact on the analysis of the effectiveness of the Strategy and Action Plan 
in  terms  of  quantifying  the  effects  and  crediting  changes  corresponding  to  the  objectives 
solely to the Strategy and Action Plan. However, several research methods15 have been used 
for  the  evaluation  and  the  findings  from  each  data  source  have  been  combined,  which 
contributed to the weight of evidence. 

The evaluation concluded that the Strategy and Action Plan are still fit for purpose in terms of 
meeting  the  requirements  of  drugs  policy  at  EU,  national  and  international  levels.  All  areas 
they tackle remain relevant for addressing all aspects of the drugs phenomenon.   

The  evaluation  applied  the  five  standard  criteria:  effectiveness,  efficiency,  coherence, 
relevance and EU added value. 

A. 

Effectiveness  

As a first step to assess effectiveness, the evaluation assessed the degree of implementation of 
all  the  54  actions  of  the  Action  Plan,  as  well  as  their  impact.  The  graph  below  shows  the 
progress made in the Action Plan for each of the five pillars: 

13  

14  

15  

This  involved  over  90  interviews  with  representatives  from  all  EU  Member  States,  European 
institutions,  agencies,  third  countries,  and  other  stakeholders;  an  online  survey  of  European  External 
Action  Service  (EEAS),  representatives  in  non-EU  countries;  an  online  public  consultation  and 
roundtable discussion with representatives from the Civil Society Forum on Drugs. 
This is due to the fact that not all Member States provide data on all measures, to the fact that different 
indicators cover different time periods, that some indicators are based on registers or surveys and are 
quantifiable while others rely on expert opinions or qualitative assessments. 
Interviews, surveys, desk research, public consultation, roundtable discussions. 

4 

 
 
                                                            
The evaluation found that implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan has been 
effective, to different degrees, in all five pillars.  

The  majority  of  the  actions  have  been  implemented  -  53%  of  actions  are  completed  or  on 
track, whilst for 47% of actions some progress has been made but implementation is behind 
plan  - and  considerable progress  has  been  made  on  the  15  specific  objectives  of  the  Action 
Plan. 

In the area of drug demand reduction, delays relate to the objectives on preventing drug use 
and delaying the onset of drug use and on enhancing the effectiveness of drug treatment and 
rehabilitation.  The  objective  of  embed  coordinated,  best  practice  and  quality  approaches  in 
drug demand reduction is on track.  

In  the  area  of  drug  supply  reduction,  the  objectives  to  enhance  effective  law  enforcement 
coordination and cooperation and enhancing effective judicial cooperation and legislation are 
behind schedule, whilst that related to responding effectively to current and emerging trends 
in illicit drug activity was assessed as on target. 

In  the  area  of  coordination,  the  objectives  relating  to  ensuring  effective  coordination  at  EU 
and national-level of drug-related policies and ensuring the participation of civil society in the 
formulation of drugs policy were assessed as on target. 

In  the  field  of  international  relations,  the  objective  of  integrating  the  Strategy  into  the  EU's 
overall  foreign  policy  framework  was  assessed  as  lagging  behind,  whilst  objectives  are  on 
track relating to improving the cohesiveness of the EU’s approach and visibility in the United 
Nations (UN) and of supporting the process for acceding, candidate and potential candidates 
countries’ to adapt to and align with the EU acquis on drugs. 

5 

 
 
 
In the field of information, research, monitoring and evaluation, further progress is needed to 
ensure  adequate  investment  in  research,  data  collection,  monitoring,  evaluation  and 
information  exchange  and  to  enhance  the  dissemination  of  monitoring,  research  and 
evaluation  results  at  EU  and  national  level.  Progress  on  maintaining  networking  and 
cooperation and developing capacity within and across the EU’s knowledge infrastructure for 
information,  research,  monitoring  and  evaluation  of  drugs,  particularly  on  illicit  drugs  was 
good. 

B. 

Efficiency  

In  the  absence  of  a  comprehensive,  up-to-date  overview  of  drug-related  expenditure,  the 
evaluation provided indications of the extent to which sufficient financial resources had been 
allocated at EU and Member State level. 

The  evaluation  could  not  conclude  on  the  efficiency  of  the  intervention  as  harmonised 
quantitative  data  are  not  available  as  regards  expenditure  and  related  benefits  of  relevant 
actions across EU Member States. However, the Drugs Strategy and Action Plan managed to 
establish a common EU-wide framework as explained in the "EU added value" section below.  
In the absence of a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of drug-related expenditure, the 
evaluation focussed instead on the extent to which the allocation of financial resources at EU 
and  Member  State  level  was  perceived  as  sufficient.  Overall,  resources  were  considered  by 
stakeholders to be sufficient for the EU Strategy and Action Plan, in particular with regard to 
drug demand and supply. 

C. 

Coherence 

The  priorities  and  actions  in  the  Strategy  and  Action  Plan  were  found  to  be  coherent  with 
most other relevant EU policies and strategies, such as the European Agenda on Security and 
the European Development Consensus16, while more synergies with the EU Health Strategy17 
are called for. For example, the evaluation points to the fact that the challenges posed by the 
ageing  of  the  population  in  Europe  or  the  potential  impact  of  new  technologies  in  the 
prevention area as identified in the EU Health Strategy are not reflected.  

D. 

Relevance 

According  to  the  evaluation,  stakeholders  considered  the  Strategy  and  Action  Plan  to  be  as 
relevant  as  at  the  time  of  their  adoption.  The  five  pillar  structure  continues  to  address  most 
current drugs policy requirements at EU and national level.  All areas tackled in the Strategy 
and  Action  Plan  2013-2016  remain  relevant  for  addressing  all  aspects  of  the  drugs 
phenomenon.   

16  

17  

Joint  statement  by  the  Council  and  the  representatives  of  the  governments  of  the  Member  States 
meeting  within  the  Council,  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Commission  on  European  Union 
Development Policy: ‘The European Consensus’ OJ C/46/1 of 24.02.2006 
COM  (2007)  630  final  and  objectives  identified  in  2007  will  remain  valid  for  the  next  decade  in  the 
context  of  Europe  2020.  In  addition  the  Third  Health  Programme  2014-2020  points  to  similar 
challenges 

6 

 
 
                                                            
E. 

EU added value 

The  Strategy  and  the  Action  Plan  provided  added  value  to  individual  Member  States’  (and 
non-state  actors)  strategies  by  establishing  a  common  EU-wide 
framework  and 
institutionalising a process of consensus-building on drugs policy.  

None of them imposes legal obligations on EU Member States, but the evaluation found that 
they  have  been  successful  in  broadly  directing  collective  action  in  the  field  of  drugs,  both 
within  the  EU  and  at  international  level,  and  promoting  a  shared  model  with  a  culture  of 
defining priorities, objectives, actions and indicators for measuring performance. 

The  evaluation  also  found  that  the  EU  added  value  appears  more  pronounced  in  terms  of 
demand  reduction  activities  and  emerging  challenges.    In  international  development 
cooperation  Member  States  recognised  the  added  value  of  collectively  setting  a  common 
strategic framework for actions at the EU level. 

The  EU  now  has  more  of  a  ‘voice’  in  international  fora  and  international  relations.  This 
provides  an  important  source  of  guidance  for  candidate  countries,  and  a  framework  for 
bilateral cooperation with non-EU countries.  

F. 

Conclusion 

Overall, the evaluation confirmed that all stakeholders would broadly welcome a new Action 
Plan for 2017-2020. They considered it necessary to continue setting out precise priorities and 
actions  relating  to  each  objective,  to  assign  responsibility  and  to  formulate  specific, 
measurable  indicators.    The  comprehensive  nature  of  the  Strategy  enables  stakeholders  to 
refine  the  focus  of  the  priorities  over  its  lifespan  while  maintaining  a  reasonable  degree  of 
coherence. In addition, stakeholders favoured updating the 2013-2016 Action Plan in response 
to new developments and emerging issues.  

The evaluation found that some actions needed to be strengthened or added in order to keep 
up with developing issues and create more synergies with other EU policy areas such  as the 
EU Health Strategy.  It also points to the need for a greater level of focus on the use of new 
communication technologies in illicit drug production and trafficking and the role of internet 
in drug prevention. The evaluation shows that the omission of a discussion on recent trends in 
cannabis policy was noted by a wide range of stakeholders and represented one of the most 
frequent  items  raised  when  exploring  whether  there  are  any  issues  not  covered  by  the 
Strategy.  

The  evaluation  also  indicates  that  there  is  room  for  improvement  in  implementation  and 
access  to  risk  and  harm  reduction  measures  across  various  Member  States  and  that 
stakeholders  from  civil  society  expressed  concerns  about  the  extent  and  quality  of  these 
measures. 

Finally, the evaluation found that a future Action Plan should continue to include actions to 
monitor NPS, to reduce demand for and supply of them, and to reduce harms associated with 
their use. 

7 

 
 
IV. 

The draft new Action Plan 2017-2020 - what is new and what has been updated? 

Building  on  the  evaluation  findings  and  recommendations,  the  Commission  is  proposing  a 
draft EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020, thus covering the remaining years of the existing 
EU  Drugs  Strategy,  in  force  until  2020.  Building  on  the  results  of  the  evaluation,  the  draft 
Action Plan maintains and strengthens existing actions to address challenges that continue to 
pose a threat to health and security.  It also includes new actions to reflect developments since 
2013 and address emerging challenges not covered previously. Some of the newly introduced 
actions,  such  as  those  addressing  the  use  of  new  technologies  for  prevention  or  the 
comprehensive analysis of developments relating to cannabis policy models, are based on the 
evaluation’s  findings.  Others  result  from  reflections  emerging  from  sources  such  as  the  EU 
Drugs Market Report, policy developments at EU level notably in the context of the European 
Agenda on Security and contributions from the civil society. Such actions include:  

  gathering evidence of potential connections between drug trafficking and  

the financing of terrorist groups and activities;  

 
  migrant smuggling; and  
 

trafficking in human beings 

 

the explicit inclusion of vulnerable groups in the drug demand actions  

The new actions and updates as they relate to the five pillars of the Strategy are summarised 
below. 

A. 

Drug demand reduction 

  Stronger  synergies  will  be  created  between  the  new  Action  Plan  and  the  EU  Health 
Strategy,  particularly  as  regards  the  use  of  information  and  communications 
technologies (ICT) for prevention purposes. The use of ICT is key to raising awareness, 
especially among children and young people, of the risks and consequences of illicit drugs 
use.18 

  Account is taken of the recent work of the Horizontal Drugs Group (HDG) on the misuse 

of prescribed opioids and other psychoactive medicines19.  
In  the  light  of  population  ageing  in  the  EU  there  is  a  need  to  address  the  emerging 
challenge of ageing drug users, as also outlined in the EU Health Strategy20.   

 

  Drug use in vulnerable communities will be addressed by refining the targeted measures 

in the Action Plan 2013-201621.  

  Stronger focus on risk and harm reduction measures, aimed at minimising the adverse 
health and social consequences of drug abuse, play a central role in effective drugs policy, 
including in prison settings22. 

18  
19  

20  
21  

22  

A new action 3 was introduced and action 4 has been updated. 
Action 5 has been updated: it now refers to the 'misuse of psychoactive medicines'; this includes any 
type  of  psychoactive/addictive  substances  used  for  treatment,  all  drugs  acting  on  the  central  nervous 
system and opioids and medicines used in opioid substitution treatment. 
Actions 6 and 7 have been updated  
Objective 2, several actions under the drug demand reduction pillar and action 48 have been amended to 
reflect this development. In this context, it is suggested that synergies be explored with the European 
Solidarity Corps. 
Actions  8  and  9  have  been  strengthened  to  reflect  the  central  objective  of  the  EU's  positions  for 
UNGASS. 

8 

 
 
 
                                                            
 

Implementation and monitoring of the 2015 Council conclusions23 on minimum quality 
standards in drug demand reduction in the EU24.  

B. 

Drug supply reduction 

  Stronger focus on judicial cooperation in drugs related cases at EU level is required. To 
get  a  fuller  picture  of  the  impact  of  supply  reduction  efforts,  Europol,  Eurojust  and  the 
EMCDDA  should  maintain  their  work  to  collect  indicators  and  complement  data 
collection, where possible, with qualitative and contextual information25. 

  There should be a focus on the continued implementation of the key indicators adopted by 
the 2013 Council conclusions on improving the monitoring of drug supply in the EU26. 
Seven  indicators  have  been  developed  along  with  a  roadmap  for  their  implementation. 
Full data collection for most of them is ongoing or will start in 201727.  

  The New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) legislative package should be rapidly adopted 
and swiftly implemented; monitoring the effects of the new legislative measures will also 
be required in the next years28. 
Implementation29  of  the  EU  legislation  on  drug  precursors  which  was  strengthened  in 
2013 with the adoption of significant amendments to the two Regulations30.  

 

  More attention should be given to alternatives sanctions for drug-using offenders. All 
Member  States  have  at  least  one  available  and  most  have  more  than  one31.  The  most 
commonly  available  sanctions  are  drug  treatment  and  suspended  sentences  with  a 
treatment option32.  

  Greater  focus  on  the  use  of  ICT  in  illicit  drug  production  and  trafficking33as 
established at the June 2016 expert meeting organised by the Commission 34 in the context 
of the EU Internet Forum. 

C. 

Coordination 

  Greater coherence and coordination with the other Council working groups would help 
the  HDG  fulfil  its  role  of  monitoring  the  implementation  of  the  Strategy  and  ensure 
coherence between demand and supply reduction activities and detect relevant synergies35.  

23  

24  
25  
26  

27  
28  
29  
30  

31  

32  
33  

34  

Council  conclusions  on  the  implementation  of  the  EU  Action  Plan  on  Drugs  2013-2016  regarding 
minimum quality standards in drug demand reduction in the European Union 11985/15 
Action 10 has been updated 
Action 11 has been updated 
Council conclusions on improving the monitoring of drug supply in the European Union 15 November 
2013  
Action 17 has been updated 
Action 19 has been updated 
Action 20 has been amended accordingly 
Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on drug precursors (OJ L 
47,  18.2.2004,  p.  1–10)  and  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  111/2005  laying  down  rules  for  the 
monitoring of trade between the Union and third countries in drug precursors (OJ L 22, 26.01.2005, p. 
1-10) 
Study on alternatives to coercive sanctions as response to drug law offences and drug-related crimes, 
May 2016, for the European Commission  
Action 22 has been updated 
Action  23  has  been  updated.  The  challenges  are  driven  by  factors  such  as  secure  encryption,  web 
hosting,  the  move  from  surface  to  deep  websites  and/or  the  darknet;  the  emergence  of  new  forms  of 
payment  (such  as  bitcoins);  and  the  growth  in  drug  advertising  and  exchanges  on  social  media. 
Particular attention has been given to the use of the web for the sale of prescription drugs and NPSs. 
Report from "Internet and drugs" expert meeting June 2016 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
  More  attention  and  time  should  be  devoted  to  discussing  the  implementation  of  the 

Action Plan during HDG meetings36.  

  As  advocated  by  the  EU  in  global  fora,  further  opportunities  should  be  sought  to 
increase civil society's participation in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation of drugs policies at EU and national level37.  

D. 

International cooperation 

  The evaluation found that there is scope for improving the capacity of EU delegations to 

engage in drugs issues and network with each other on regional basis.38 

  Greater  focus  should  be  placed  on  combating  illegal  drug  crop  cultivation  and  on 

enhancing alternative development39. 
In order to address adequately concerns as regards drug-related extrajudicial killings and 
the  use  of  the  death  penalty,  the  EU  should  explore  ways  of  engaging  with  other 
countries whenever serious drug-related issues arise40. 

 

  Account is also taken of recent developments in the Dublin Group41, which is looking at 

ways of modernising its working methods42. 

  The relevant actors have not deemed it essential to holding an annual dialogue on EU and 
Member States' drug-related assistance to other countries so that action has been dropped 
from the draft Action Plan43. 

  There  is  wide  consensus  that  one  key  area  in  which  the  Strategy  and  Action  Plan  add 
value is enabling the EU to ‘speak with one voice’ in international fora, as demonstrated 
in  the  run-up  to  UNGASS  2016.  Focus  is  needed  now  on  the  implementation  of  the 
UNGASS  outcome  and  on  the  preparation  of  the  2019  review  process  of  the  2009 
Political Declaration and Action Plan on International Cooperation towards an integrated 
and balanced strategy to counter the world drug problem44 

36  
37  
38  

35  Action  24  has  been  amended  in  line  with  the  evaluation’s  recommendation  that  the  current  coordination 
mechanisms  between  the  HDG  and  the  Standing  Committee  on  Operational  Cooperation  on  Internal 
Security  (COSI)  be  reviewed.  In  addition,  actions  24  and  28  (as  amended)  also  address  the  need  to 
improve  coordination  between  the  HDG  and  thematic  Council  Working  Groups  of  the  Council,  e.g. 
those on the UN Working Party and Human Rights. This would improve synergies and cooperation on 
international relations, especially in the framework of the 2019 review process of the 2009 UN Political 
Declaration and Action Plan on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy 
to Counter the World Drug Problem. 
Action 26 has been updated 
Action 31 has been updated 
Action 34 has been amended to give full support to EU Delegations’ role in  monitoring drugs policy 
developments  in  non-EU  countries  and  reporting  back  to  the  Commission  and  the  European  External 
Action Service (EEAS). 
Former  actions  34  and  35  have  been  merged  in  action  35  since  they  addressed  similar  issues:  illegal 
drug crop cultivation and alternative development continue to be of interest.  
Action 38 has been updated; in the light of renewed diplomatic relations, Iran has been added to the list 
of countries with which the EU will seek closer cooperation and conduct dialogues on drugs. 
The Dublin Group is a flexible, informal consultation and coordination mechanism for global, regional 
and  country-specific  problems  of  illicit  drugs  production,  trafficking  and  demand.  It  is  based  on 
consensus and mutual assistance. Its participants are the EU Member States, Australia, Canada, Japan, 
Norway, the United States, the European Commission and the UNODC. 
Action 39 has been updated  
Former action 40 has been deleted. 
Action 41 has been updated.  

42  
43  
44  

39  

40  

41  

10 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                          
E. 

Research, information, monitoring and evaluation 

  There should be clear indicators to measure the impact of EU funded projects45.  
  Account  is  taken  of  work  to  promote  the  scientific  evaluation  of  policies  and 

interventions at national, EU and international level.46 

  To address a lack of  solid evidence47, a new action48 focuses  on documenting  potential 

connections between drug trafficking and: 

 

the financing of terrorist groups and activities, including any overlap between 
the established routes for drug production and trafficking areas and conflict zones 
and financing sources of terrorist cells in the EU;  

  migrant  smuggling,  creating  synergies  with  the  EU’s  Action  Plan  to  counter 

migrant smuggling49; and  
trafficking in human beings, creating synergies with the 2012–2016 EU Strategy 
towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings50.  

 

 

In  the  light  of  the  current  debate  in  some  Member  States  and  internationally,  current 
cannabis  policy  models  around  the  world  and  their  impact  will  be  analysed  in  more 
depth51.  

  Account is taken of the work to improve the cooperation between the customs laboratories 
and  the  forensic  laboratories  networks,  and  between  Commission  services  in  the  fight 
against New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)52. 

V. 

Conclusions  

The mid-term assessment of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 and the final evaluation of the 
EU Action Plan on Drugs 2013-2016 have confirmed the continued relevance of the existing 
Strategy while also indicating a consensus among many stakeholders in favour of an updated 
Action Plan for the remaining years of the Strategy's duration.  

Therefore,  the  Commission  is  proposing  an  Action  Plan  for  2017-2020  that  maintains  and 
strengthens existing actions to address challenges that continue to pose a threat to health and 
security.  It  also  includes  new  actions  to  reflect  developments  since  2013  and  addresses 
emerging challenges not covered previously.  

The  final  evaluation  of  the  Strategy  and  the  2017-2020  Action  Plan,  as  required  by  the 
Strategy itself, will be presented in 2020.  In 2019 an evaluation of the EMCDDA, including 
the  Reitox  system53,  will  also  be  carried  out,  as  required  by  the  EMCDDA  founding 

45  
46  

48  
49  
50  
51  

52  
53  

Action 45 has been updated. 
Action 46 has been updated. 
47 Idem 8. 
New action 47. 
COM (2015) 285 final. 
COM (2012) 286 final. 
Action  48  was  updated.  Cannabis  is  the  most  widely  used  drug  in  the  EU.  Recent  years  have  seen  a 
number  of  developments  in  some  non-EU  countries  with  regard  to  cannabis  law  reform,  e.g.  as  de-
penalisation of use, market regulation or legalisation. 
Action 52 has been updated. 
Reitox  is  the  European  information  network  on  drugs  and  drug  addiction.  It  was  created  at  the  same 
time  as  the  EMCDDA  and  is  made  up  of  ‘national  focal  points’  or  ‘national  drug  observatories’ 
(designated national institutions or agencies responsible for collecting data and reporting on drugs and 
drug addiction.  

11 

 
 
 
 
                                                            
Regulation54.  As 
the 
implementation  of  the  2017-2020  EU  Action  Plan,  a  mid-term  progress  review  will  not  be 
necessary.   

the  above  evaluations  will  provide  valuable 

information  on 

The  Commission  will  now  enter  into  a  dialogue  on  its  proposed  draft  EU  Action  Plan  on 
Drugs 2017-2020 with the European Parliament and the Council. 

54  

Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on 
the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (recast) 

12 

 
 
                                                            
1. 

DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION 

Contribute to a measurable reduction in the use of illicit drugs, in problem drug use, in drug dependence and in drug-related health and social harms as 
well as contributing to a delay in the onset of drug use 

ANNEX55 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Ongoing  MS 

  Overarching indicators 1, 11, 12 
  Level of provision at MS level of 
evidence-based universal and 
environmental prevention measures  

  Level of provision at MS level of 

evidence-based targeted prevention 
measures, including family and 
community based measures 
  Level of provision at MS level of 

evidence-based indicated prevention 
measures 

1.  Prevent drug 
use and, 
secondly, 
delay the onset 
of drug use 

1.  Improve the availability and 
effectiveness of evidence-
based56 prevention measures that 
take account of: 
a.  population risk factors such 
as age; gender; cultural and 
social factors;  

b.  situational risk factors such 
as homelessness; migration 
and asylum seeking, drug 
use in nightlife and 
recreational settings; the 
workplace; and driving under 
the influence of drugs; and 
c.  individual risk factors such as 

mental health; problem 
behaviour and psychosocial 
development; and other 
factors known to affect 
individual vulnerability to 
drug use such as genetic 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

Reitox 
National 
Reports 

MS reporting 
on results of 
measures 

55  
56  

The draft Action Plan includes in bold newly added parts and in strikethrough the parts that the Commission proposes to remove 
Evidence based should be read in this context as "based on available scientific evidence and experience" 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

influences and family 
circumstances  

2.  In addition to the prevention of 
drug use, strengthen and better 
target prevention and 
diversionary measures to delay 
the age of first use of illicit drugs 

Ongoing   MS 

  Overarching indicators 1, 5, 12 
  Level of provision at MS level of 
evidence based prevention and 
diversionary measures that target 
young people in family, community, 
and formal/non-formal education 
settings 

3.  Exchange of best practices in 
targeting children and young 
people in prevention actions, 
including: 

a.  programmes and 

campaigns  in formal and 
non/formal education 
settings; 

b.  online programmes and 

campaigns; 

c.  cooperation with internet 
companies for prevention 
purposes; and 

d.  ways of harnessing social 

media to better understand 
drug use and improve 
demand reduction 

Ongoing  MS 

  Type of exchanges of best practices 

between MS 

  Positive evaluations of behavioural 

outcomes of best practice 
interventions (where available) 

Civil society 

EMCDDA 

14 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 

EMCDDA 
Reporting 

MS reporting 
on results of 
measures 
EMCDDA 
best 
practices 
portal 

MS 
reporting 

Civil society 
reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

responses 

4.  Raise awareness of the risks and 

Ongoing  MS 

  Overarching indicators 5, 12 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 

EMCDDA 
Reporting 

consequences associated with the 
use of illicit drugs and other 
psychoactive substances, 
including by cooperating with 
internet companies and 
prevention experts to target 
children and young people 
better 

5.  Enable a more informed response 
to the challenge of the misuse of  
prescribed and ‘over the counter’ 
opioids and other psychoactive 
medicines  

COM 

  Level of awareness in general and 

EMCDDA 

youth populations of healthy lifestyles 
and of the risks and consequences of 
the use of illicit drugs and other 
psychoactive substances  

Eurobaro-
meter surveys 

2017-2020  MS 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

EMA 

EMCDDA 

15 

  Collation of data by MS on levels and 
patterns of prescribing of psychoactive 
medicines by 
end 2014 

  Number of initiatives that focus on the 

promotion of appropriate use of 
prescribed and ‘over the counter’ 
opioids and other psychoactive 
medicines  

  Collation of evidence and 

international examples on how to 
reduce the risks of diversion and 
abuse of psychoactive medicines 

ESPAD 

HBSC 
MS 
Reporting 

EMCDDA 

Report of 
Alice RAP 
project 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 

  Training of medical practitioners 

and other health professionals in the 
use of medication to control pain and 
treat suffering  

16 

 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

6.  Develop and expand the diversity, 

Ongoing  MS 

availability, coverage and 
accessibility of evidence-based 
comprehensive and integrated 
treatment services. Ensure that 
these services address polydrug 
use (combined use of illicit 
and/or licit substances including 
alcohol and tobacco) and the 
emerging needs of the ageing 
drug-using population and 
gender-specific issues. Develop 
early intervention/treatment 
and therapy programmes for 
child and adolescent drug 
users. 

  Overarching indicators 1, 6, 11 
 

Extent of the diversity of evidence-
based comprehensive and integrated 
treatment services at MS level 
including those which address 
polydrug use and the needs of the 
ageing drug-using population 
  MS data on treatment retention and 

outcomes 

2. Enhance the 
effectiveness of 
drug treatment 
and 
rehabilitation, 
including 
services for 
people with co-
morbidity, to 
reduce the use of 
illicit drugs; 
problem drug 
use; the incidence 
of drug 
dependency and 
drug-related 
health and social 
risks and harms 
and to support the 
recovery and 
social 
re/integration of 
problematic and 
dependent drug 
users and of 
vulnerable 
communities, 
including by 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 
EMCDDA 
Reporting   

Reitox  

National 
Reports 

EMCDDA 
Best Practice 
Portal 

EU Drugs 
Strategy and 
Action Plan 
final 
evaluation 

MS 
reporting 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

MS 
Reporting on  

results of 
services  

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

building 
synergies with 
the EU 
Solidarity 
Corps.  

7.  Expand the provision of   

Ongoing  MS 

  Overarching indicator 11 

rehabilitation/recovery services 
with an emphasis on services 
that: 
a.  focus on providing a 

continuum of care through 
case management and  
interagency collaboration    
for  individuals; 

b.  focus on supporting the social 
re/integration   (including the 
employability and housing) 
of problem and dependent 
drug users including 
prisoners and ageing drug 
users, where relevant;   
c.  Strengthen the diagnostic 

process and the treatment of     
psychiatric and physical co-    
morbidity involving drug use, 
for e.g.  with rapid testing 
for hepatitis B and C and 
HIV as well as other 
sexually transmitted 
infections and tuberculosis, 
in line with the minimum 
quality standards on drug 
demand reduction adopted 
by the Council in 2015; 
d.  take account of gender-

18 

MS data on: 

  Extent of increase in 

rehabilitation/recovery services 
adopting case management and inter-
agency approaches 

  Extent of increase in the number of 

gender specific 
rehabilitation/recovery 
programmes 

  Extent of increase in the number of 
comprehensive community care 
programmes, specifically targeted at 
drug users with co-morbidity, 
involving partnerships between both 
mental health and drug rehabilitation/ 
recovery services and prisons 
  Level and duration of abstentions 

from consumption of illicit and/or licit 
drugs by people leaving drug 
treatment 

  Availability of treatment options to 

meet needs of people who experience 
relapses to drug use and of ageing 
drug users 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 

specific needs; and 
e.  reach out to vulnerable 
communities, including 
children and teenagers, 
ethnic minorities, migrants 
and asylum seekers, 
LGBTI, commercial sex 
workers and prisoners, 
people living with 
HIV/AIDS and the 
homeless. 

8.  (a) Scale up access to harm 

Ongoing  MS 

reduction services e.g. needle 
and syringe exchange 
programmes, opioid 
substitution treatment, take-
home naloxone programmes 
Ensure that treatment and 
outreach services incorporate 
greater access to risk and harm 
reduction options to lessen the 
negative consequences of drug 
use and to substantially reduce 
the number of direct and indirect 
drug-related deaths and 
infectious blood borne diseases 
associated with drug use but not 
limited to HIV and viral hepatitis, 
as well as sexually transmittable 

EMCDDA 

COM 

Civil Society 
Forum on 
Drugs 

Civil Society 
Forum on 
HIV/AIDS, 
Viral 
Hepatitis 
and 
Tuberculosis 

19 

  Overarching indicators 2, 3, 4, 11 
  Extent of increased availability of and 
access to evidence based risk and 
harm reduction measures in MS 
  Type of exchanges of best practices 

on risk and harm reduction 
measures 

  Number of MS reaching the WHO 
recommendation of a minimum 
threshold of 200 sterile needles and 
syringes distributed per injecting 
drug user per year 

  Coverage of opioid substitution 
treatment programmes among 
people with opioid dependence  
  Extent of increased availability of 
take home naloxone programmes 
and nightlife harm reduction 

EMCDDA 
Reporting  

Reitox 
National 
Reports 

MS 
Reporting on 
services  

 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 

diseases and tuberculosis 

(b) Identify and overcome 
barriers in access to treatment 
for hepatitis C among people 
who inject drugs, including 
prisoners and other vulnerable 
groups 

(c) Exchange best practices on 
risk and harm reduction 
measures e.g. needle and 
syringe exchange programmes, 
opioid substitution treatment, 
drug consumption rooms, take-
home naloxone programmes, 
peer based interventions, 
outreach treatment 
programmes, hepatitis C 
treatment, pill testing, self-
testing for HIV/AIDS, etc. 

programmes 

  Number of programmes facilitating 
the access of people who inject 
drugs into treatment for the 
hepatitis C virus (HCV) and people 
covered 

  Number of harm reduction 

programmes targeting vulnerable 
communities e.g. ethnic minorities, 
migrants and asylum seekers, 
LGBTI,  commercial sex workers 
and prisoners 

  Degree of implementation of 

ECDC/EMCDDA guidance on 
prevention and control of infectious 
diseases among people injecting 
drugs 

  Degree of implementation of EU 

minimum quality standard in drug 
demand reduction III (Treatment 
services provide voluntary testing for 
blood-borne infectious diseases, 
counselling against risky behaviours 
and assistance to manage illness) 

9.  Scale up the development, 

Ongoing  MS 

availability and coverage of 
health care measures for drug 
users in prison and after release 
with the aim of achieving a 
quality of care equivalent to that 

  Overarching indicator 10 
  Availability of services for drug users 

EMCDDA 
Reporting 

in prisons (including opioid 
substitution treatment and needle 
and syringe exchange programmes) 
and the extent to which prison health 

Reitox 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

provided in the community 

care policies and practices incorporate 
care models comprising best practices 
in needs assessment and continuity of 
care for prisoners during 
imprisonment 

  Extent of decrease in drug-related 

physical and mental health problems 
amongst prisoners 

  Extent to which prison based services 
and community based services 
provide continuity of care for 
prisoners upon release with particular 
emphasis on avoiding drug overdoses 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 
National 
Reports 

MS 
Reporting on 
services  

21 

 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

3. Embed co-
ordinated, best 
practice and 
quality 
approaches in 
drug demand 
reduction  

10. Implement the EU minimum 

2017-2020  Council  

quality standards adopted by the 
Council in 201557 that help 
bridge the gap between science 
and practice, for:  
a.  environmental, universal, 
selective and indicated 
prevention measures; 

b.  early detection and 

intervention measures;  
c.  risk and harm reduction 

measures; and  

d.  treatment, rehabilitation, 
social integration and 
recovery measures 

and monitor their implementation.  

Council WP 
(HDG) 

MS 

COM 

EMCDDA 

  Consensus achieved by MS on 

minimum quality standards building 
on previous EU preparatory studies 
  Evidence review of drug demand 

reduction programmes 
implemented in accordance with the 
standards;   

  Number of specialist training 
programmes available for 
practitioners in drug demand 
reduction and/or estimated number 
of practitioners reached by 
specialist training programmes; 
Involvement of civil society in the 
implementation of the standards, 
including in planning and 
introduction 

 

  Number and impact of projects and 
programmes supported at EU level 
that promote the exchange of  best 
practices in the implementation of 
these standards 

  Engagement in inter-ministerial 

cooperation to support 
implementation of these standards. 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms 
EMCDDA 
Best Practice 
Portal 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report 

MS 
reporting 

EU Drugs 
Strategy and 
Action Plan 
final 
evaluation 

57  

Council conclusions on the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2013-2016 regarding minimum quality standards in drug demand reduction in the European 
Union 11985/15 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
2. 

DRUG SUPPLY REDUCTION 

Contribute to a measurable reduction of the availability and supply of illicit drugs in the EU 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

11. Utilise to best effect available 
intelligence and information 
sharing law enforcement 
instruments, channels and 
communication tools used to 
collate and analyse drug-related 
information  

party 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

Eurojust 

Council WP 
(COSI) 

4. Enhance effective 
law enforcement co-
ordination and co-
operation within the 
EU to counter illicit 
drug activity, in 
coherence, as 
appropriate, with 
relevant actions 
determined through 
the EU policy cycle  

  Overarching indicator 7 
  Extent of high impact 

intelligence led and targeted 
activities, of joint operations, 
joint investigation teams and 
cross border cooperation 
initiatives focusing on 
criminal organisations 
engaged in illicit drug activity 
Increased use of Europol’s 
drug-related information-
sharing, analysis and expert 
systems  

 

  Results achieved from 
EMPACT projects and 
bilateral and multilateral 
initiatives 

  Number of drug-related 

cases referred to Eurojust 
and Europol, including 
qualitative, contextual 
information about the cases 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

EU Agencies 

Europol Reporting  

Eurojust 
Reporting 

EMPACT Driver 
Reports 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

12. Identify and prioritise the most 
pressing threats associated with 
drug-related organised crime 

2017 

Council  

  EU Policy Cycle and Crime 

priorities for 2017-2021 in 
place 

Council WP 
(COSI) 

Europol 

MS 

COM 

13. Strengthen CEPOL’s training for 
law enforcement officers in 
relation to illicit drug production, 
trafficking and financial crime, 
particularly training methods and 

2017-2020   MS 

CEPOL 

  Training needs assessment 
carried out regularly 
  Availability and uptake of 
relevant training courses  
  Number of law enforcement 

24 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Council 
Conclusions on EU 
Policy Cycle 

EU SOCTA 

Multi-annual 
Strategic Plans 
(MASPs) 

EMPACT 
Evaluation 

EMPACT Driver 
Reports 

Europol Directors' 
Report 
COM Biennial 
Progress  

Report 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Europol 

Council WP 
(COSI) 

COM 

officers trained and effectively 
deployed as a result 

techniques  
a.  to combat the use of new 

communication technologies 
in illicit drug production and 
trafficking;  

b.  to enhance asset confiscation; 
c.  to combat money laundering;  
d.  to detect and dismantle illicit 
clandestine laboratories and 
cannabis cultivation sites.  

  Overarching indicator 7 
  Number of intelligence led 
activities leading to the 
disruption and suppression of 
drug trafficking routes  
  Level of information sharing 

through effective activity of the 
liaison officer network 

14. Improve counter narcotic 

Ongoing 

COM 

activities through strengthening 
and monitoring the effectiveness 
of regional information-sharing 
platforms and regional security-
sharing platforms with the aim of 
disrupting and suppressing 
emerging threats from changing 
drug trafficking routes 

MS 

Europol 

Council WP 
(COSI) 

Regional 

25 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

CEPOL Annual 
Report  

CEPOL Curricula  

EMPACT 
Evaluation  

EMPACT Driver 
Reports 
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

Security/ 
Information -
sharing Platforms 
and Evaluation 
Reports 

EU SOCTA  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Information- 

Sharing 
Platforms 

Regional 
Security-
Sharing 
Platforms 

15. Strengthen  actions  to  prevent  the 
diversion  of  drug  precursors  and 
pre-precursors for use in the illicit 
manufacture of drugs 

Ongoing  MS 

Europol 

COM 

Council WP 
(CUG 

COSI) 

stopped 

  Number of cases and quantity 
seized 
precursors 

of 
shipments 
intended for illicit use 
achieved 

  Results 

from 

of 

or 

EMPACT projects 

  Use 

Pre-Export 
of 
(PEN)  Online 
Notification 
System  and  increased  use  of 
Incident 
the 
Communication 
System 
(PICS) 

Precursors 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

EMPACT 
Evaluation  

EMPACT Driver 
Reports 

Europol Directors' 
Report 

MAOC(N)58 
Reports from EU 
and MS Law 
Enforcement 
Agencies 

EMPACT 
Evaluation  

EMPACT 

58  

The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC (N), based in Lisbon, is an initiative by 7 EU Member Countries: France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, 
Netherlands,  Portugal  and  the  UK  and  is  co-funded  by  the  Internal  Security  Fund  of  the  European  Union.  The  Centre  provides  a  forum  for  multi-lateral 
cooperation to suppress illicit drug trafficking by sea and air. 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

16. Counter cross-border drug 

Ongoing  MS 

trafficking, including through 
container and parcel shipments, 
and improve border security 
notably at EU seaports, airports 
and land border crossing points 
through intensified efforts, 
including information and 
intelligence sharing, by relevant 
law enforcement agencies  

  Number  of  joint  follow  up 
meetings  and  other  activities 
linked to the prevention of the 
diversion  of  precursors  and 
pre-precursors 

 

Increased number of multi-
disciplinary/multi-agency joint 
operations and cross border 
cooperation initiatives  

Europol 

Council WG 

  Number of effective 

Memoranda of Understanding 
(MOU) agreed between law 
enforcement agencies and 
relevant bodies such as airlines, 
air express couriers, shipping 
companies, harbour authorities 
and chemical companies 

 

  Results achieved from 
EMPACT projects 
Improved intelligence and 
information sharing on cross-
border drug trafficking 
utilising, inter alia, available 
border surveillance systems 

airports and land border crossing 
points 

(CCWP 

COSI) 

27 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Driver Reports 

Europol Directors' 
Report 
COM Biennial 
Progress  

Report 

EMPACT 
Evaluation Driver 
Reports 

Europol Directors' 
Report 

Europol reporting 

MS Reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

17. Implement the key indicators on 
drug supply reduction adopted 
by the Council in 201359 

2017-2020 

COM 

  Roadmap developed and 

MS 

Council 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

agreed on the implementation 
of key drug supply indicators 
MS agreement reached on key 
drug supply indicators  

  number and quantity of drug 

seizures 

  purity and content of drugs 
  drug prices 
  drug production facilities 

dismantled 

  drug law offences 
  drug availability in 
population surveys 
  market size estimates  

18. Strengthen EU judicial co-

2017-2020 

Council 

  Adoption and Timely 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Overview of 
existing supply data 
collection in MS 

EMCDDA 
Reporting 

Europol reporting 

COM Biennial 
Progress Report 
Eurojust Reporting 

5. Enhance effective 
judicial co-operation 
and legislation 
within the EU 

operation in targeting cross-border 
drug trafficking, money 
laundering, and in the confiscation 
of the proceeds of drug-related 

COM 

implementation of agreed EU 
measures and legislation on                      
(a) confiscation and recovery 
of criminal assets60; (b) 

59  

60  

Council conclusions on improving the monitoring of drug supply in the European Union 15 November 2013  

Directive 2014/42/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the freezing and confiscation of instrumentalities and proceeds of crime in the European 
Union; Council Decision 2007/845/JHA concerning cooperation between Asset Recovery Offices of the member States in the field of tracing and identification of 
proceeds  of,  or  other  property  related  to,  crime;  Council    Framework  Decision  2006/783/JHA  on  the  application  of  the  principle  of  mutual  recognition  to 
confiscation orders. Council Framework Decision 2003/577/JHA on the execution in the European Union of orders freezing property or evidence, Commission 
proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders COM(2016) 819; Council 
Framework Decision 2005/212/JHA on confiscation of crime-related proceeds, instrumentalities and property; Council Framework Decision 2003/577/JHA on the 
execution in the European Union of orders freezing property or evidence.  

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

organised crime 

party 

MS 

Eurojust 

19.  Adopt and implement new EU 

2017-2020  COM 

legislative measures to address the 
emergence, use and rapid spread 
of new psychoactive substances 

Council 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

 

money laundering61; (c) 
approximation of drug 
trafficking offences and 
sanctions across the EU62 
Increased number of financial 
investigations and 
confiscations in relation to the 
proceeds of drug-related 
organised crime through EU 
judicial cooperation 
  Timely and effective 

responses to mutual assistance 
requests and European Arrest 
Warrants in relation to illicit 
drug trafficking  

  EU legislation in place  
 
Implementation of EU 
legislation in MS  
  Development of EU 
guidelines for the 
information exchange and 
risk assessment procedures 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
MS reporting 

COM Biennial 
Progress Report  

COM Biennial 
Progress Report  

MS reporting 

61  

62  

Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering 
or  terrorist  financing,  amending  Regulation  (EU)  No  648/2012  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council,  and  repealing  Directive  2005/60/EC  of  the 
European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  and  Commission  Directive  2006/70/EC;  Council  Framework  Decision  2001/500/JHA  on  money  laundering,  the 
identification, tracing, seizing and confiscation of instrumentalities and the proceeds of crime. Commission proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament 
and of the Council on countering money laundering by criminal law COM (2016) 826.Regulation (EU) 2015/847 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
information accompanying transfers of funds and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1781/2006; Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council  on  controls  of  cash  entering  or  leaving  the  Community.  Commission  proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council    on 
controls on cash entering or leaving the Union and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 
Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA of 25 October 2004 laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the 
field of illicit drug trafficking, as regards the definition of drug 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

MS 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

  Monitor the effects of new 
legislative measures with a 
special focus on the 
replacement-effect in the 
illegal drug market 

20.  Implement effectively EU 

Ongoing 

Council 

 

legislation on drug precursors to 
prevent their diversion without 
disrupting lawful trade 

21.  Combat the use of certain 
pharmacologically active 
substances (as defined in EU 
Directive 2011/62) as cutting 
agents for illicit drugs 

COM 

MS 

Ongoing  MS 

COM 

EMA 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

Implementation of 
Regulations of the European 
Parliament and of the Council 
on drug precursors amending 
both Council Regulation (EC) 
No. 111/2005 and  Regulation 
(EC) No. 273/2004  

  Number of seizures of active 
substances used as cutting 
agents for illicit drugs 
  Timely implementation of 

new EU legislative 
requirements aimed at 
securing the supply chain for 
active substances under 
Directive 2011/62/EU, the 
Falsified Medicines Directive 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

COM Biennial 
Progress Report  

EU Annual Report 
on Drug Precursors 

Reports from the 
CCWP and CUG 

MS Reporting 

22.  Members States to provide and 
apply, where appropriate and in 
accordance with their legal 
frameworks, alternatives to 
coercive sanctions (such as 
education, treatment, 
rehabilitation, aftercare and social 

2017-2020  MS 

 

Council 
(HDG) 

30 

Increased availability and 
implementation of alternatives 
to coercive sanctions prison 
for drug-using offenders in the 
areas of education, treatment, 
rehabilitation, aftercare and 
social integration. 

Reitox National 
Reports 

MS reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

integration) for drug using 
offenders, including: 
a.  Education 
b.  (Suspension of sentence 

with) treatment 

c.  Suspension of investigation 

or prosecution 

d.  Rehabilitation 
e.  Aftercare and social 

integration 

and develop the Fundamental 
rights dimension as a key factor 
to better balance repression and 
promote rehabilitation. 

 

Increased monitoring, 
implementation and 
evaluation of alternatives to 
coercive sanctions  
  Type and number of 

alternatives to coercive 
sanctions provided for and 
implemented by MS 
Information on beneficiaries 
of alternative sentences  who 
reoffend within five years 

 

31 

 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

6. Respond 

23.  Identify strategic responses to 

2017-2020  Council 

  Results achieved from law 

effectively to 
current and 
emerging trends 
in illicit drug 
activity 

address the role of new 
communication technologies 
and the hosting of associated 
websites, in the production, 
marketing, purchasing and 
distribution of illicit drugs, 
including controlled new 
psychoactive substances at 
national and EU level, including 
by: 
a.  Cooperation with industry  
b.  EU and national funding for 

relevant research and 
development of tools to 
support the work of law 
enforcement  

c.  Setting up of a glossary of 

terms  

d.  Setting up an inventory of 

existing monitoring tools for 
the web and darknet  
e.  Providing specialised 
training for law 
enforcement, customs and 
border guards, prosecutors 
and judges 

f.  Continuous and proactive 
monitoring of online 
marketplaces by law 
enforcement 

COM 

Council WP 
(HDG, 
COSI) 

 

enforcement 
actions targeting drug-related 
crime via the internet  
Increased number of joint 
operations and    
cross border cooperation 
initiatives 

MS 

Europol 

CEPOL 

EMCDDA 

  Number and impact of 

funded research projects 
and tools developed to 
support law enforcement 

  Number of 

agreements/discussions with 
relevant industry partners 
  Setting up of a glossary of 

terms 

  Setting up of an inventory of 

monitoring tools 
  Numbers of training 
sessions for relevant 
stakeholders 

  Number of meetings with 
international partners in 
which the action was 
discussed 

32 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Progress Interim 
Review of the EU 
Policy Cycle 
Priorities 

EMPACT 
Evaluation and  

Driver Reports 

Europol Directors' 
Report 

CEPOL 
Statistics/Annual 
Report 

MS Reporting 

Reports from EU 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

g.  Exchange of best practices 
with international partners 
h.  Streamlining of mutual legal 
assistance proceedings (and 
where applicable, mutual 
recognition), in line with the 
09 June 2016 Council 
Conclusions on improving 
criminal justice in 
cyberspace63 

Data collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Agencies 

COM 

63  

Council Conclusions on improving criminal justice in cyberspace 09 June 2016 

33 

 
 
 
                                                            
3. 

CO-ORDINATION 

Member States and EU to effectively co-ordinate drugs policy 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

7. Ensure 
effective EU co-
ordination in the 
drugs field 

24.  Enhance information sharing 

Ongoing 

PRES 

  Extent to which the EU Drugs 

between the HDG and other relevant 
Council Working Groups and in 
particular COSI to enhance 
coordination as regards the drug 
supply reduction pillar 

Enhance information sharing 
between the HDG and other 
relevant geographical and 
thematic Council Working 
Groups including: COAFR, 
COASI, COEST, COLAT, 
COWEB, CONUN and COHOM 

Council 

EEAS 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

Strategy/and Action Plan are taken 
into account in the Programmes of 
other Council Working Groups  
including COSI, COAFR, COASI, 
COEST, COLAT, COWEB, 
CONUN and COHOM. 

  Regular information point on the 

HDG agenda (once per 
Presidency) on activities linked 
to drug-related priorities of the 
EU Policy Cycle  (based on 
EMPACT reporting) in the 
presence of the COSI Support 
Group chair, if relevant 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Council 
Working 
Group (HDG) 
reporting  

Presidency 
reporting 

Biannually  PRES 

MS 

25.  Each  Presidency  may  convene 
meetings of the National Drugs Co-
ordinators, and of other groupings as 
appropriate,  to  consider  emerging 
trends,  effective  interventions  and 
other  policy developments  of added 
value to the EU Drugs Strategy and 
to MS  

Presidency 
Reporting 

  Extent to which National Drug Co-
ordinators’ meeting agenda reflects 
trends  and  new 
developments, 
insights  in  policy  responses  and 
improved 
provides 
for 
communication  and 
information 
exchange 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

26.  The HDG will facilitate (a) 

monitoring of the implementation of 
the Action Plan through thematic 
debates; and (b)  an annual dialogue 
on the state of the drugs 
phenomenon in Europe 

(a) 
Biannually
Ongoing 

Council WP 
(HDG) 
MS 

(b) 
Annually 

COM 

27.  Ensure consistency and continuity 
of MS and EU actions across 
Presidencies to strengthen the 
integrated, balanced and evidence-
based approach to drugs in the EU  

Biannually
Ongoing 

28.  Ensure co-ordination of EU drugs 
policies and responses, to support 
international co-operation between 
the EU, third countries and 

Ongoing 

EMCDDA 

Europol 
PRES 

PRES Trio 

MS 

COM 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

EMCDDA 

Europol 
EEAS 

COM 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Presidency 
Reporting 

PRES 

  Extent of implementation of the 

Action Plan 

  Number of actions from the 
Action Plan addressed in 
thematic debates in the HDG  
  Timeliness of dialogue at the HDG 
on latest drug-related trends and 
data 

  Extent of consistency and 

continuity of actions across 
Presidencies 

  Advancement in implementation of 
EU Drugs Strategy priorities across 
Presidencies 

Presidency 
Reporting 

 

 Level of consistency and 
coherence in the objectives, 
expected results and measures 
foreseen in EU actions on drugs 
 Inclusion of drug-related priorities 

Annual EEAS 
Report to the 
HDG 

Council WP 

 

35 

 
 
 
 
  
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

international organisations   

party 

(HDG) 

MS 

29.  Achieve a co-ordinated and 

Annually  MS 

appropriate level of resources at EU 
level and Member State level to 
fulfil the priorities of the EU Drugs 
Strategy 

COM 

EEAS 

Council 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

 

in strategies of relevant EU bodies 
 Intensified co-operation between 
the HDG and the 
geographical/regional and 
thematic working groups, 
including COAFR, COASI, 
COEST, COLAT, COWEB, 
CONUN and COHOM 

  Overarching indicator 14 
  Amount of funding at EU level, 
and where appropriate, MS level 
 Extent of co-ordination on drugs-
related financial programmes 
across Council Working Groups 
and COM 

 

8. Ensure 
effective co-
ordination of 
drug-related 
policy at national 
level  

30.  Co-ordinate actions on drugs policy 
between 
Government 
Departments/Ministries and relevant 
agencies  at  MS  level  and  ensure 
appropriate 
multi-disciplinary 
representation on, or input  to, HDG 

Ongoing  MS 

  Overarching indicator 14 

  Effectiveness of a horizontal drug 
policy co-ordination mechanism at 
MS level 

Reitox 
National 

36 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report 

EMCDDA 
Reporting 

COM 
reporting 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

delegations 

  Number of cross-cutting actions in 
drug demand and supply reduction 
at Member State level 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Reporting 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

MS Reporting 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

9. Ensure the 
participation of 
civil society  in 
drugs policy 

31.  Promote and support strengthen 

Ongoing  MS 

  Timely dialogues between EU 

dialogue with, and involvement of, 
civil society and the scientific 
community in the formulation, 
implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation development,  of drugs 
policies at MS and EU levels 

COM 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

PRES 

Civil Society 
Forum on 
Drugs 

Civil Society Forum on Drugs and  
the HDG during each Presidency 
period  

  Engagement of EU Civil Society 

Forum in reviewing 
implementation of the EU Drugs 
Action Plan 

  Level of involvement of civil 

society in MS and EU drugs policy 
formulation, development and 
implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation with particular regard 
to the involvement of drug users, 
clients of drug-related services and 
young people 

  Timely dialogue between the 

scientific community (natural and 
social sciences, including 
neuroscience and behavioural 
research) and the HDG 

  Development of a database to 

facilitate communication within  
EU civil society on matters 
relating to  EU and MS drugs 
policies 

38 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
COM 

Biennial  
Progress 

Report 

Feedback  
from EU 
Civil Society 
Forum on 
Drugs and 
from Civil 
Society 
Representativ
es at MS and 
EU level 

MS Reporting 

Feedback 
from 
Scientific 
Community 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
through the 
EMCDDA 
Scientific 
Committee 

39 

 
 
4. 

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION 

Strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the EU and third countries and international organisations on drugs issues in a comprehensive and 
balanced manner  

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

10. Integrate the 
EU Drugs Strategy 
within the EU's 
overall foreign 
policy framework 
as part of a 
comprehensive 
approach that 
makes full use of 
the variety of 
policies and 
diplomatic, 
political and 
financial 
instruments at the 
EU's disposal in a 
coherent and co-
ordinated manner 

32.  Ensure policy coherence between the 
internal and external aspects of the EU 
drugs policies and fully integrate drugs 
issues within the political dialogues and 
framework agreements between the EU 
and its partners and in the EU advocacy 
on global issues or challenges 

party 

Ongoing 

COM 

EEAS  

PRES  

Council WP 
(HDG) 

MS 

  Overarching indicator 13 
  Drug policy priorities 

increasingly reflected in 
EU’s external policies and 
actions 

  Inclusion of drug-related 
priorities in EU strategies 
with third countries and 
regions 

  Number of agreements, 

strategy papers, action plans 
in place 

33. Ensure that the policy priorities and the 
balance between demand and supply 
reduction are well reflected in policy 
options and in the programming, 
implementation and monitoring of 
external assistance, particularly in source 
and transit countries, through projects 
involving: 
a.  development of integrated,  balanced 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

EEAS 

  Extent to which EU’s Drug 
policy priorities, especially 
the balance between 
demand and supply 
reduction, are reflected in 
funded priorities and 
projects 

  Level of implementation of 
co-ordinated actions in 

40 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EEAS 
Reporting  

Mid-Term 
Review of 
EU Drugs 
Strategy  

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  
COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

and evidence-based drug policies; 

b.  supply reduction; 
c.  the prevention of the diversion of 

drug precursors and pre-precursors; 

d.  drug demand reduction; and  
e.  alternative development measures  

34.  Improve capacity and strengthen the 

2017-2020  EEAS 

role of EU Delegations to enable them to 
proactively engage on drugs policy 
issues and effectively report back on 
the local situation on drugs 

COM 

MS 

action plans between the 
EU and third countries and 
regions 

  Number of third country 
national strategies and 
action plans that incorporate 
integrated drug policies 

  Relevant expertise, training 

and policy guidance 
provided to EU Delegations 

  Regional networking 

among EU Delegations on 
drug issues enhanced 
  Co-ordination with MS 

enhanced 

Ensure an appropriate level of EU and MS 
funding and expertise to further strengthen 
and support third countries' efforts in 
addressing and preventing illicit drug crop 
cultivation, through rural development 
measures, in order to deal with the 
challenges to public health, safety and 
security  

Ongoing  MS 

  Number of third country 

EEAS 

COM 

41 

national policies, strategies 
and action plans that 
incorporate integrated 
approaches to the problem 
of illicit drug crop 
cultivation 
Improvements in human 
development indicators in 
drug-cultivating areas 

 

  Number of rural 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EEAS 
Reporting on 
Programming 

COM and 
MS 
Programme 
Monitoring 
and 
Evaluation 
Reports 
EEAS  

COM 
Reporting   

EU 
Delegations  

EU and MS 
Project and 
Programme 
Monitoring 
and 
Evaluation 
Systems and 
Reports 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

development projects and 
programmes, funded by the 
EU and MS in regions 
where illicit crop cultivation 
is taking place, or in regions 
at risk of illicit crop 
cultivation   

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
UNDP 
Human 
Development 
Reports 

35.  Promote and implement the EU 

Ongoing 

MS 

approach to alternative development 
(consistent with the EU Drugs Strategy 
2013-2020; the EU Approach to 
Alternative Development and the United 
Nations Guiding Principles on 
Alternative Development 2013) in co-
operation with third countries, taking 
into account human rights, human 
security and specific framework 
conditions, including: 

a.  incorporating alternative 

development into the broader agenda 
of Member States, encouraging third 
countries that wish to do so to 
integrate alternative development 
into their national strategies; 

COM 

EEAS 

42 

  Reported local decrease in 
illicit drug crop cultivation 
in the long-term 

Third country 
reports  

Third 
countries’ 
implementati
on reports of 
National 
Drugs 
Strategies 

  Number of third country 

national policies, strategies 
and action plans that 
incorporate:  

o 

integrated approaches 
to the problem of 
illicit drug cultivation 
and  

o  effectively organised 

alternative 
development 
initiatives  

  Number of evaluated 

projects that demonstrate 
positive outcomes relating 
to sustainable, legal and 
gender sensitive livelihoods 
Improvements in human 

 

EU and MS 
Project and 
Programme 
Monitoring 
and 
Evaluation 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

b.  contributing to initiatives that aim to 

reduce poverty, conflict and 
vulnerability by supporting 
sustainable, legal and gender 
sensitive livelihoods for people who 
were previously, or are currently, 
involved in illicit drug  production  
c.  providing an appropriate level of 
EU and MS funding and expertise 
to further strengthen and support 
non-EU countries' efforts in 
addressing and preventing illicit 
drug crop cultivation, through 
rural development measures and 
illicit drug production through law 
enforcement and judicial 
cooperation 

development indicators 

  Number of rural 

development projects and 
programmes, funded by 
the EU and MS in regions 
where illicit crop 
cultivation is taking place, 
or in regions at risk of 
illicit crop cultivation   
  Reported local decrease in 

illicit drug crop 
cultivation in the long-
term 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Reports 

UNDP 
Human 
Development 
Reports 

Non-EU 
country 
reports 

36.  Support  third  countries,  including  civil 
society  in  those  countries,  to  develop 
and  implement  risk  and  harm  reduction 
initiatives  particularly  where  there  is  a 
growing  threat  of  transmission  of  drug-
related  blood  borne  viruses  associated 
with  drug  use  including  but  not  limited 
to  HIV  and  viral  hepatitis,  as  well  as 
transmittable  diseases  and 
sexually 
tuberculosis 

Ongoing  MS 

COM 

EEAS 

  Number and quality of risk 

and harm reduction 
initiatives developed 
  Prevalence of drug-related 

Third country 
Reports 

deaths in third countries  
and drug-related blood 
borne viruses  including but 
not limited to HIV and viral 
hepatitis, as well as sexually 
transmittable diseases and 
tuberculosis  

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Ongoing 

MS 

EEAS 

COM 

Europol 

S 

  Number and effectiveness 

of projects and programmes 
  Sustained reduction in drug 

trafficking  

37.  Support third countries to tackle drug-
related organised crime, including drug 
trafficking, by: 
a.  intelligence-sharing and the 
exchange of best practices; 
b.  strengthening counter-narcotics 

capacity and developing expertise of 
source and  transit countries; 

c.  working with international partners 

to tackle the enablers of drug 
trafficking such as corruption, weak 
institutions, poor governance and 
lack of financial regulatory controls;  

d.  strengthening co-operation in the 
field of asset identification and 
recovery, in particular through the 
creation of dedicated national 
platforms; and 

e.  intensifying regional and intra-

f. 

regional co- operation 
incorporating rule-of-law and 
international human rights 
standards and principles in drug-
related law enforcement measures 

44 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
WHO 
Reports   
COM 

Biennial 
Progress 
Report 

COM and 
MS 
Reporting  

Europol 
Reporting 

EEAS 
Reporting 

UNODC 
Annual 
World Drug 
Report 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Ongoing 

PRES Trio 

COM 

EEAS 

MS 

  Overarching indicator 13 
  Strengthened co-operation 

in the field of drugs with 
relevant partners  
  Dialogues organised 
  Declarations agreed  
  Programmes and Action 
Plans implemented 

38.  (a) Reinforce co-operation and conduct 
dialogues, 
update 
Declarations and EU Drugs Action Plans 
with partners, including: 

implement 

and 

 

 

 Acceding  countries,  candidate  countries 
and potential candidates 
 European 
countries 
 United States of America, the   

Neighbourhood 

Policy 

 
  Russian Federation 
 

 Other  countries  or  regions  of  priority 
notably: 
o  Afghanistan and Pakistan  
o  Central Asian Republics 
o  China 
o  Latin  American  and  the  Caribbean 

(CELAC) 

o  Africa, in particular West Africa 
o  Iran 

(b)  Explore  possibilities  for  engagement 
joint 
(such  as  bilateral  dialogues, 
projects) with other non-EU countries on 
serious drug-related issues  

45 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EEAS 
Reporting 

Mid-Term 
Review of 
EU Drugs 
Strategy 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

EU Reporting 
Matrices  

Implementati
on Reports of 
the relevant 
action plans  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

39.  Improve the Dublin Group consultative 
mechanism through intensified EU 
coordination and participation, better 
formulation, implementation and 
dissemination of its recommendations of 
the Mini Dublin Group reports 

Hold an annual dialogue on EU and MS 
drugs-related assistance to third countries 
accompanied by a written update  

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Dublin Group 
Reports 

party 

Ongoing 

Dublin Group 

COM 

EEAS 

MS 

  Level of activity across 
Dublin Group structures 
including number of Dublin 
Group recommendations 
effectively implemented 

  Achieved modernisation 
of the Dublin Group’s 
working methods 

From 

COM 

  Annual dialogue on funding 

COM  

held  

2014  

EEAS 

MS 

46 

Biennial 
Progress 
Report   

MS 
Reporting 

EEAS 
Reporting 

Project and 
Programme 
Monitoring 
and 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

40.  Ensure 

the 

that 

promotion 

and 
protection  of  human  rights  are  fully 
integrated  in  political  dialogues  and  in 
the  planning  and 
implementation  of 
relevant  drugs-related  programmes  and 
the 
projects 
implementation  of  the  rights-based 
  and  of  tailored  
approach  (RBA) 
human 
impact 
assessment tool  

rights  guidance  and 

including 

through 

Ongoing 

COM 

  Human 

rights  effectively 
into  EU 

mainstreamed 
external drugs action 

  Human  rights  guidance  and 
assessment  tool  developed 
and implemented 

EEAS 

MS 

47 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Evaluation 
System and 
Reports 
COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report 

COHOM 
Annual 
Human 
Rights Report 

MS 
Reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

12. Improve 
cohesiveness of 
EU approach and 
EU visibility  in 
the United Nations 
(UN) and 
strengthen EU co-
ordination with 
international 
bodies related to 
the drugs field 

41.  Contribute to shaping the agenda on 
international drugs policy, including 
through:  
a.  action by EU and MS Delegations at 
the UN General Assembly and the 
Commission on Narcotic Drugs 
(CND); 

b.  action by EU and MS delegations 
in all UN fora addressing drug-
related matters (e.g. the UN 
General Assembly, World Health 
Assembly, Human Rights Council, 
High Level Political Forum on 
Sustainable Development)  
c.  preparation, co-ordination and 

adoption of EU common positions 
and joint resolutions  in the UN 
General Assembly and the CND, 
including, ahead of the CND, on 
scheduling of substances, and 
ensuring that the EU speaks with one 
strong voice in these and other 
international fora; 

d.  the implementation of the   

recommendations of the 2016 
UNGASS Outcome Document  
e.   the 2019 review process of the 2009 
UN Political Declaration and Action 
Plan on International Cooperation 
towards an Integrated and Balanced 

party 

Ongoing 

EEAS 

PRES 

MS 

COM 

Council 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

48 

  Overarching indicator 13 
  Number of EU statements 
delivered at CND and UN 
fora 

  Number of EU common 

positions supported by other 
regions and international 
bodies 

  Number of EU common 

positions concerning CND 
decisions on scheduling of 
substances 

  Outcome of the CND 

decisions on scheduling of 
substances 

  Frequency with which EU 
speaks with a single 
effective voice in 
international fora and in 
dialogues with third 
countries 

  Level of successful 

adoption  of EU resolutions 
at UN including at the CND 

  Effective promotion of EU 

policies in the UN, including 
at the CND 

  Adoption of an EU 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EEAS 
Reporting  

Mid-Term 
Review of 
the EU Drugs 
Strategy 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

Convergence 
Indicator  

Mid-term 
Review 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Strategy to Counter the World Drug 
Problem; and 

f.  ensure the meaningful involvement 

of civil society in the review 
process 

42.  Strengthen partnerships with the 

Ongoing 

Council 

UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS and other 
relevant UN agencies, international and 
regional bodies and organisations and 
initiatives (such as the Council of 
Europe and the Paris Pact Initiative)  

EEAS 

COM 

PRES 

Council WP 
(HDG) 

EMCDDA 

49 

Common Position Paper 
for the 2019 review 
process; EU contribution 
to the definition by the 
CND on the modalities for 
the 2019 process 
  Outcome of the 2019 

review of the UN Political 
Declaration and Action Plan 
on International Co-
operation towards an 
Integrated and Balanced 
Strategy to Counter the 
World Drug Problem 
  Overarching indicators 13, 

15 

  Number of information 
exchanges and activities 
between the EU and 
relevant international and 
regional bodies and 
organisations and initiatives 

  Effectiveness of 

partnerships with relevant 
bodies 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
UNGASS  

2019 review 
Outcome 

EEAS 
Reporting  

Mid Term 
Review of 
the EU Drugs 
Strategy 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

43.  Provide targeted technical assistance, 
and other assistance and support as 
necessary, to acceding countries, 
candidate countries, and potential 
candidates to facilitate their adaptation 
to and alignment with the EU acquis in 
the drugs field  

13. Support the 
process for 
acceding countries, 
candidate 
countries, and 
potential 
candidates to adapt 
to and align with 
the EU acquis in 
the drugs field, 
through targeted 
assistance and 
monitoring 

  Overarching indicator 15 
 
Increased compliance by 
countries with EU acquis 

  Number and quality of 
completed projects 
  National Drugs Strategies 
and national drugs co-
ordinating structures 
established 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

Eurojust 

FRONTEX 

EEAS 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Report  

COM 
Biennial 
Progress  
Report  

Acceding 
countries, 
candidate 
countries and 
potential 
candidates 
reports 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
5. 

INFORMATION, RESEARCH, MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

Contribute to a better understanding of all aspects of the drugs phenomenon and of the impact of measures in order to provide sound and 
comprehensive evidence for policies and actions 

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

44. Promote appropriate financing of EU-
level drug-related multi-disciplinary 
research and studies including through 
EU related financial programmes (2014-
2020) 

2017-2020  MS 

  Amount and type of EU 

COM 

EMCDDA 

funding provided across the 
different programme and 
projects 

14. Ensure 
adequate 
investment in 
research, data 
collection, 
monitoring, 
evaluation and  
information 
exchange on all 
aspects of the 
drug 
phenomenon  

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
COM  

reporting 

at annual 
research 
dialogue 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

51 

 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

45.  Ensure that EU-supported projects:  

2017-2020  COM 

EMCDDA 

a.  take account of the priorities of the  
EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan 
on Drugs; 

b.  take account of gaps in policy 

formulation; 

c.  deliver clear added value and ensure 

coherence and synergy; and  
d.  avoid duplication with research 

under other programmes and bodies 

e.  take account of the importance of 

behavioural research and 
neuroscience64  
include clear indicators for 
measuring their impact 

f. 

  The inclusion of the priorities 
of the EU Strategy and Action 
Plan on Drugs in the funding 
and assessment criteria of EU-
funded drugs related research  

  Number, impact, 

complementarity and value of 
EU-funded drugs related 
research grants and contracts 
awarded  

  Number of EU-funded drugs 
related articles and research 
reports published in peer-
reviewed journals with high 
impact factors 

  Annual debate at the HDG on 
drug- related research projects 
funded by the EU including 
EMCDDA Scientific 
Committee 
recommendations on 
research priorities   

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

Research 
project 
reports 

EMCDDA 
Scientific 
Committee 
recommendat
ions on 
research 
priorities 

Science 
Citation 
Index and 
similar 
bibliometric 

64  

Under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), some €27 million have already been allocated to projects addressing drug addiction and include behavioural research and neuroscience 

52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
tools 

Strategic 
research 
agenda 
developed by 
ERANID  

53 

 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

46.  Promote scientific evidence-based 

2017-2020  COM 

evaluations of policies and interventions 
at national, EU and international level 

MS 
EMCDDA 

  Overarching indicator 14 
  Regular progress review to the 

Council and European 
Parliament on Strategy and 
Action Plan implementation 

  Number of countries 

following a structured 
approach, as outlined in the 
guide to commissioning and 
managing evaluations 
produced by the EMCDDA 
  External mid-term assessment 
of the Strategy/Action Plan 
completed – 2016 

  European guidelines for the 
evaluation of national drug 
strategies and action plans 
published 

  Delivery of dedicated studies 
into the effectiveness and 
impacts of EU and 
international drug policies 
  Completed evaluation of the 
implementation of the 2003 
Council Recommendation on 
the prevention and reduction 
of health-related harm 
associated with drug 
dependence 

54 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report  

Mid-term 
Assessment 
Report of EU 
Drugs 
Strategy 

EMCDDA 
Reporting  

EMCDDA 
Scientific 
Committee 
Reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

Reports of 
Alice RAP 
and 
LINKSCH 
and ERA-net   

Reitox 
National 
Reports 

55 

 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

  Number of projects funded 
at EU and national level 

47. Gather evidence of  potential 

2017-2020  MS 

connections between drugs trafficking 
and: 

a.  financing of terrorist groups and 
activities, including any overlap 
between the established routes for 
drug production and trafficking 
areas and conflict zones; and 
financing sources of terrorist cells 
in the EU from illicit activities, 
including drug trafficking; 
b.  migrant smuggling building 

synergies with the EU Action Plan 
against migrant smuggling (2015-
2020) that foresees research and 
risk analysis between smuggling 
and other crimes such as drugs 
trafficking and including: 

  A focus on vulnerable migrants 
and their potential exploitation 
for drugs trafficking purposes 
and/or as end users of drugs, in 
particular minors and women. 

  Exploration of any overlap 

between drugs trafficking and 
migrant smuggling criminal 
rings, modi operandi and routes.  

Commission 

EU ATC 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

Frontex 

FRA 

EIGE 

56 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
MS 
reporting 

COM 
reporting 

EU agencies 
reporting 
(EMCDDA 
Europol 

FRONTEX 
and FRA in 
the 
framework 
of their 
regular 
reporting 
activities 

EIGE in the 
framework 
of their 
regular 
reporting 
activities 

 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  

c.  trafficking in human beings 

building synergies with the EU 
legal and policy framework 
addressing trafficking in human 
beings including the EU Strategy 
towards the Eradication of 
Trafficking in Human Beings 
2012–2016 

57 

 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

15. Maintain 
networking and 
co-operation 
and develop 
capacity within 
and across the 
EU’s 
knowledge 
infrastructure 
for information, 
research, 
monitoring and 
evaluation of 
drugs, 
particularly 
illicit drugs 

48. In collaboration with relevant parties as 

 Ongoing   

EMCDDA 

appropriate, continue to provide 
comprehensive analyses of: 
a.  the EU drugs situation; 
b.  the dynamics of drug use within 
general populations and target 
groups including ethnic minorities, 
migrants and asylum seekers, 
LGBTI, commercial sex workers 
and prisoners; and 
c.   responses to drug use 
d.  EU and international 

developments relating to cannabis 
policy models and their impacts 

Europol  

MS 

Civil Society 
Forum on 
Drugs 

COM 

  Overarching indicators 1-15   
  Current deficits in the 

knowledge base established 
and an EU level framework 
developed to maximise 
analyses from current data 
holdings  

  Number of overviews and 
topic analyses on the drug 
situation 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

MS 
Reporting 

Civil Society 
Forum on 
Drugs 

COM 

58 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

49.  Enhance  training  for  those  involved  in 
responding to the drugs phenomenon 

2017-2020                

MS 

EMCDDA 

CEPOL 

level 

  Number  of  initiatives  at  MS 
train 
to 
and  EU 
professionals 
in  aspects  of 
drug  demand  reduction  and 
drug supply reduction 

  Number  of  initiatives  at  MS 
and  EU  level  implemented  to 
train  professionals    related  to 
data  collection  and  reporting 
of  drug  demand  reduction  and 
drug supply reduction 

50.  Enhance data collection, research, 

Ongoing  MS 

  Increased availability and 

analysis and reporting  on:  
a.  drug demand reduction;  
b.  drug supply reduction;  
c.  emerging trends, such as polydrug 
use and misuse of prescribed 
controlled psychoactive medicines,  
that pose risks to health and safety;  
d.  blood borne viruses associated with 
drug use including but not limited to 

COM 

EMCDDA 

implementation of evidence-
based and scientifically sound 
indicators on drug supply 
reduction and drug demand 
reduction 

Europol 

  At MS level, extent of new 

ECDC 

59 

research initiated on emerging 
trends such as polydrug use 
and the misuse of prescribed 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
MS 
Reporting 

EMCDDA 
Training 
Report 

CEPOL 
Annual 
Report 

Reitox 
Annual 
Reports 
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

MS 
Reporting 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Harmonised 
data reports 
from EU 
bodies 
including 
EMCDDA 

EU SOCTA  

Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

HIV and viral hepatitis, as well as 
sexually transmittable diseases and 
tuberculosis; 

e.  psychiatric and physical co-

morbidity;  

f.  drug problems among prisoners and 
the availability and coverage of drug 
demand reduction interventions and 
services in prison settings; and 
g.  other drug-related consequences 
problems and consequences 
related both to licit and illicit 
substances  

h.  compliance of drugs policies with 

international human rights 
standards and principles 

controlled medicines;  blood 
borne diseases associated with 
drug use including but not 
limited to HIV and viral 
hepatitis, as well as sexually 
transmittable diseases and 
tuberculosis; psychiatric and 
physical co-morbidity; and 
other drug-related 
consequences 

  EU-wide study carried out on 
drug-related community 
intimidation and its impact on 
individuals, families and 
communities most affected and 
effective responses to it 
  Adoption of evidence-based 
and scientifically sound 
indicators on  drug problems 
among prisoners  

party 

EMA 

60 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

51.  Improve  the  capacity  to  detect,  assess 
and respond effectively to the emergence 
and use  of new psychoactive substances 
and  monitor  the  extent  to  which  such 
new  substances  impact  on  the  number 
and profile of users 

party 

Ongoing 

COM 

MS 

EMCDDA 

Europol 

52.  Strengthen efforts to share forensic 

2017-2020  COM 

science data, including support on the 
identification of new psychoactive 
substances, laboratory reference 
standards on new psychoactive 
substances, and the development of a 
common methodology for the 
identification of new substances by 

MS 

EMCDDA 

61 

  Overarching indicator 6 
  Extent of new 

epidemiological, 
pharmacological and 
toxicological research initiated 
on new psychoactive 
substances and supported by 
MS and EU Research 
programmes 

  Extent of information, best 
practice and intelligence 
exchange 

  Extent of sharing by 

toxicology laboratories and by 
Research Institutes of 
toxicological and health data 
analyses on new psychoactive 
substances 

  Overarching indicator 15 
  Extent of sharing of forensic 

science data on new 
psychoactive substances, 
supporting the identification 
of new psychoactive 
substances  

  Ease of access to laboratory 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
EMCDDA 
Reporting 

EMCDDA-
Europol 
Implementati
on Report 

Reports by 
laboratories 
and research 
institutes 

Reitox 
National 
Reports  
EMCDDA/ 
Europol 
Reporting 

COM 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

enhancing co-operation with the 
Commission's Joint Research Centre, 
and through existing networks, such as 
the Drugs Working Group of the 
European Network of Forensic Science 
Institutes in the framework of the JHA 
Council Conclusions on the Vision for 
European Forensic Science 2020 and 
the Customs Laboratories European 
Network 

reference standards by forensic 
science laboratories, customs 
laboratories and institutes 
  Progress on development of 
a common methodology for 
the identification of new 
psychoactive substances 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
reporting 

COM 
Biennial 
Progress 
Report 

62 

 
 
 
Objective 

Action 

Timetable  Responsible 

Indicator(s) 

party 

53.  Improve the ability to identify, assess 

Ongoing  MS 

and respond at MS and EU levels to (a) 
behavioural changes in drug 
consumption and (b) to drug-related 
epidemic outbreaks 

EMCDDA 

ECDC 

EMA 

16. Enhance 
dissemination 
of monitoring, 
research and 
evaluation 
results at EU 
and national 
level  

54.  Member States continue to support EU 
monitoring and information exchange 
efforts, including co-operation with, and 
adequate support for, Reitox National 
Focal Points 

Ongoing  MS 

EMCDDA 

COM 

63 

  Number and effectiveness of 

new drug-related public health 
initiatives developed and 
implemented 

  Number and effectiveness of 
existing initiatives that are 
adjusted to take account of 
drug consumption or epidemic 
outbreaks 

  Number and impact of early 

warning reports, risk 
assessment and alerts 

  Open-access outputs from EU 
funded studies disseminated  

  Extent to which Reitox 

National Focal Points funding 
and other resources match 
requirements 

  Number and effectiveness of 
Reitox National Focal Points 
dissemination initiatives 

Data 
collection/ 
assessment 
mechanisms  
Reitox 
National 
Reports 

Early 
Warning 
System 
reports 

EMCDDA 
Reporting 
Web 
Disseminatio
n including 
OpenAire, 
Cordis  

EMCDDA 
website  

Reitox 
National 
reports 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

ANNEX 1 - 15 OVER-ARCHING INDICATORS FOR THE EU ACTION PLAN ON DRUGS 2017-
20201

Percentage  of  population  who  use  drugs  currently  (within  last  month),  used  drugs  recently 
(within last year), and who have ever used (lifetime use) by drug and age group  (EMCDDA 
General Population Survey) 

Estimated  trends  in  the  prevalence  of  problem  and  injecting  drug  use  (EMCDDA  Problem 
Drug Use) 

Trends  in  drug  induced  deaths  and  mortality  amongst  drug  users  (according  to  national 
definitions)(EMCDDA Drug-related Deaths) 

Prevalence  and  incidence,  among  injecting  drug  users,  of  infectious  diseases  attributable  to 
drug use, including HIV and viral Hepatitis, sexually transmittable diseases and tuberculosis  
(EMCDDA Drug-related Infectious Diseases) 

Trends in the age of first use of illicit drugs (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and 
Drugs (ESPAD), Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) and General Population 
Drug Use Survey (EMCDDA Key Epidemiological Indicator)  

Trends in numbers of people entering drug treatment (EMCDDA Treatment Demand) and the 
estimated  total  number  of  people  in  drug  treatment  (EMCDDA  Treatment  Demand  and 
Health and Social Responses) 

Trends in number of and quantities of seized illicit drugs (EMCDDA Drug Seizures: cannabis 
incl.  herbal  cannabis,  heroin,  cocaine,  crack  cocaine,  amphetamine,  methamphetamine,  
ecstasy, LSD and other substances) 

Trends in retail price and purity of illicit drugs (EMCDDA Price and Purity:  cannabis incl. 
herbal  cannabis,  heroin,  cocaine,  crack  cocaine,  amphetamine,  methamphetamine,  ecstasy, 
LSD, other substances and composition of drug tablets) 

Trends  in  the  number  of  initial  reports  of  drug  law  offences,  by  drug  and  type  of  offence 
(supply vs use/possession)(EMCDDA Drug Offences) 

10.  Prevalence of drug use amongst prisoners (EMCDDA Drug Use in Prisons) 

11.  Assessment of availability, coverage and quality of services and interventions in the areas of 
prevention,  harm  reduction,  social  integration  and  treatment.  (EMCDDA  Health  and  Social 
Responses) 

12.  Evidence  based  interventions  on  prevention,    treatment,  social  integration  and  recovery  and 
their expected impact on drug use prevalence and problem drug use (EMCDDA Best Practice 
Portal) 

13.  Strong  dialogue  and  co-operation,  in  the  drugs  related  field,  with  other  regions,  third 
countries,  international  organisations  and  other  parties  (External  Mid-Term  Evaluation  of 
Strategy/Action Plan; EEAS reporting) 

14.  Developments in national drug strategies, evaluations, legislation, co-ordination mechanisms 

and public expenditure estimates in EU Member States (EMCDDA) 

15.  Early  Warning  System  on  new  psychoactive  substances  (EMCDDA/Europol)  and  Risk 

Assessment on new psychoactive substances (EMCDDA) 

1  

These  indicators  are based  on  existing  reporting  systems  that pre-date  the  objectives of  the  current EU drug 
strategy  and  action  plan,  but  provide  the  most  comprehensive  set  of  EU  level  resources  to  support  their 
monitoring and evaluation 

64 

 
 
  
                                                            
7. 

ANNEX 2 - GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS 

Alice RAP

Addiction and Lifestyles in Contemporary Europe Reframing Addictions 
Project 

ASEAN 

Association of Southeast Asian Nations 

CCWP 

CELAC

CEPOL 

CICAD 

CND 

COAFR 

COASI 

COEST 

Council of the EU - Customs Cooperation Working Party  

Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (Community of Latin 
American and Caribbean States) 

European Police College 

La Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (The Inter-
American Drug Abuse Control Commission 

Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UN)  

Council of the EU - Africa Working Party 

Council of the EU - Asia-Oceania Working Party 

Council of the EU - Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia 

COHOM 

Council of the EU - Working Party on Human Rights 

COLAT 

Council of the EU - Working Party on Latin America 

COM 

European  Commission 

CONUN    

Council of the EU – United Nations Working Party  

COSI 

Council of the EU - Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on 
Internal Security  

Council WP      Council Working Party 

COWEB 

Council of the EU - Working Party on the Western Balkans Region 

CUG 

ECDC 

Council of the EU - Customs Union Group 

European Centre for Disease Control 

ECOWAS 

Economic Community of West African States 

EEAS 

EMA 

European Union External Action Service 

European Medicines Agency 

EMCDDA 

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction 

EMPACT  

European Multidisciplinary Platform against Criminal Threats 

ENFSI 

European Network of Forensic Science Institutes 

ERA-net 

European Research Area – Network 

ERANID 

European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs  

ESPAD 

European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs 

EU   

European Union 

EUROJUST   European Judicial Cooperation Unit 

EUROPOL    European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
EU SOCTA 

EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment 

FRONTEX 

European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the 
External Borders of the Member States of the European Union 

HBSC 

HCV    

HDG 

HIV 

INCB 

JHA 

Health Behaviour in School Aged Children survey 

Hepatitis C virus 

Council of the EU - Horizontal Working Group on Drugs 

Human immunodeficiency virus 

International Narcotics Control Board (UN) 

Justice and Home Affairs 

LGBTI    

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual and Intersexed 

LSD   

Lysergic acid diethylamide 

MASPs   

Multi-annual Strategic Plans (Europol) 

MOU 

Memorandum of Understanding 

LINKSCH  

The LINKSCH project is a comparative study of two major drug markets, 
cannabis and heroin, through the prism of the transit chains operating between 
Central Asia and the EU and those between North Africa and the EU 

MS 

NPS 

PEN 

PICS 

PRES 

Member State 

New psychoactive substances 

UNODC/INCB developed Pre-Export Notification Online System 

Precursors Incident Communication System 

Rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union 

PRES Trio 

Grouping of three consecutive rotating Presidencies of the Council of the 
European Union 

Reitox 

Réseau Européen d’Information sur les Drogues et les Toxicomanies 

SOCTA 

Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment 

UN 

United Nations 

UNAIDS 

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 

UNGASS 

United Nations General Assembly Special Session 

UNODC 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 

UNDP   

United Nations Development Programme 

WCO 

WHO 

World Customs Organisation 

World Health Organisation (UN) 

66