CELEX: 51995PC0579
Language: en
Date: 1995-11-23
Title: Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                            Brussels, 23.11.1995
                                            COM(95)579 final
                                            95/0135 (COD)
                         Amended proposal for a
        EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION
                             adopting a
programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within
           the framework for action in the field of public health
        (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2)
                            of the EC-Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                              EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a
programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the
framework for action in the field of public health (1995-2001)
1.     The initial proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a
       programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence was
       adopted by the Commission on 21 June 1994.
2.     The Economic and Social Committee1 and the Committee of the Regions2
       delivered favourable opinions on this initial Commission proposal
3.     In the light of the European Parliament's opinion after its first reading on 20
       September 1995 an amended proposal for a decision was submitted by the
       Commission in accordance with Article 189a of the Treaty. The text incorporates
       essentially two types of amendment:
               amendments which strengthen the initial proposal by broadening out
               Community action to target areas or groups for prevention identified as
                priorities by the European Parliament;
               amendments which make certain points in the initial proposal more
               explicit and clearer.
4.     The European Parliament adopted 56 amendments when it voted on 20 September
        1995, of which 20 were acceptable in toto or in part by the Commission ( 15. 22,
      •31, 32. II, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30/33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41.49, 51. 52. 61).
5.     The amendments which are not acceptable by the Commission can be separated
       into three groups:
       -   those raising problems which should be dealt with horizontally inasmuch they
           go beyond the specific framework of this programme (42) or problems to be
           handled in other health-related programmes (7, 37. and 55) or as part of the
           integrated EU action plan against drugs. (3. 4, 17. 39 and 60):
       -   amendments which make a political judgement on the international and
           national strategies and the legislations in force in the Member States, and so
           go beyond the sphere of Community powers based on Article 129 ( 1, 5, 8. 10,
            13, 14, 24, 56, 57);
       -   amendments which propose a less flexible wording than that proposed by the
           Commission, which introduce elements which already feature in the proposed
           decision implicitly or at a more appropriate point, or which overlap with
           amendments which are acceptable (6, 9, 12, 16. 18. 20. 25. 27. 29. 34, 45. 47,
           48. 53, 54 and 59).
       Opinion delivered on 22 February 1995.
       Opinion delivered on 16 November 1994.
                                              -fc   -
 ---pagebreak---               CODECISION PROCEDURE - FIRST READING
Amended procedure for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a
 programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within
            the framework for action in the field of public health
                           (COM (94) 223 final)
                                    -7*>~
 ---pagebreak--- COM(94)223 final                                Amended proposal
PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN                         PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION                 PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION
ADOPTING A PROGRAMME OF                         ADOPTING A PROGRAMME OF
COMMUNITY ACTION ON THE                         COMMUNITY ACTION ON THE
PREVENTION OF DRUG DEPENDENCE                   PREVENTION OF DRUG DEPENDENCE
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION                 WITIIIN THE FRAMEWORK. FOR ACTION
IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH                   IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(.1995-2000)                                    (1995-2001)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
I laving regard to the Treaty establishing the
European Community, and in particular Article
 129 thereof,
I laving regard to the proposal from the
Commission,
I laving regard to the opinion of the Economic
and Social Committee,
Having regard to the opinion of the
Committee of the Regions,
1) Whereas drug dependence has grown
alarmingly in the Member States and has
serious implications for the health of
individuals and Die welfare of the general
public;
2) Whereas, in creating in 1985 a Committee
of Inquiry into the problem of drugs in the
Member States, the European Parliament
demonstrated its desire to study in depth the
factors which trigger drug demand and enable
drugs to continue being produced and
distributed.
3) Whereas in its resolutions concerning this
problem the European Parliameni formulated a
series of proposals with a view, in particular,
to Community action on the prevention of
drug dependence;
4) Whereas the European Council, at its
meeting in Dublin on 25 and 26 June 1990,
stressed that it was the responsibility of each
Member State to develop an appropriate drug
demand reduction programme and considered
that effective action by each Member State,
supported by joint action of the Twelve and
the Community, should be a main priority
over the coming years;
                                                         A
 ---pagebreak--- 5) Whereas the actions undertaken al
Community level on ihc basis of the Council
resolutions, declarations and conclusions
iclaling lo the prevention of drug dependence,
and in particular subsequent to the adoption of
the European Council, meeting in Rome on 13
and 14 December 1990, of the European Plan
to Combat Drugs, have helped to sustain the
Member States' efforts;
6) Whereas these actions need to be continued
and consolidated within the framework of the
action in the field of public health set out by
the Commission Communication of
24 November 1993 and must take into
account, as the Council requested in its
resolution of 17 May 1993, other actions
undertaken by the Community in the Field of
public health or which have an impact on
public health;
7) Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No
302/93 established a European Monitoring
Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction to
provide the Community and its Member Stales
with reliable and comparable information
concerning drugs and drug addiction,
8) Whereas the declaration on the occasion on
the entry into force of the Treaty on European
Union adopted by the European Council,
meeting in Brussels on 29 October 1993,
emphasised that the Treaty provides "a
structured institutional framework, so that in
particular greater control can be achieved over
those of society's problems that run across
 frontiers, such as drugs (...)";
 9) Whereas the problems associated with the
drugs phenomenon are such that they require a
 fully coordinated and global strategy, as has
 been stated by the European Council, meeting
 in Brussels on 10 and 11 December 1993,
                                                 Recital 9a [new|
                                                 Whereas drug addicts are frequently persons
                                                 suffering from health problems.
                                                 Recital 9b [new]
                                                 Whereas anv strategy aimed at preventing
                                                 drug addiction must take into account every
                                                 aspect of the drugs problem;
  10) Whereas drug dependence, the only
 scourge expressly mentioned in the provisions
 of the Treaty establishing the European
 Community dealing with public health, is
 therefore a priority for Community action
 within the framework for action in the field of
 public health set out by the Commission;
 ---pagebreak--- 11 ) Whereas this programme forms one of the
essential component parts of the
Communication from the Commission to the
Council and the European Parliament of
23 June 1994 on a European Union Action
Plan to combat drugs (1995-1999);
12) Whereas, in accordance with the principle
of subsidiarity, actions on matters not under
the exclusive competence of the Community,
such as those on drug dependence, must only
be undertaken by the Community when, by
reason of their scale or effects, their objectives
can be l>etter achieved by the Community;
13) Whereas cooperation with the competent
international organisations and the non-
member countries should be strengthened;
14) Whereas a multiannual programme should
be launched with clear objectives for
Community action, and priority actions
selected with a view to preventing drug
dependence and the associated problems, as
well as appropriate evaluation mechanisms;
15) Whereas the programme should have as its
objective to contribute to the enhancement of
awareness on the use of narcotics and
psychotropic substances, on the abuse of
alcohol and pharmaceutical products, on the
misuse of chemical substances or products for
drug abuse purposes; to contribute to improve
recognition of risk situations, early detection,
counselling and advice, health and social
support with a view to preventing drug use,
facilitating the end of drug use, lowering the
mortality rate, reducing the risks of infection
by agents of infection and reducing
marginalisation,
                                                   Recital 15a |ncw|
                                                   Whereas the drugs problem, being
                                                   multidimensional, makes it essential to adopt a
                                                   multidisciplinary and integrated approach; and
                                                   whereas the programme should help to
                                                   achieve coordination of action to prevent
                                                   dependence and reducing the risks associated
                                                   therewith in the context of public health.
                                                   Recital 15b [ncwl
                                                   Whereas there is a need both for general
                                                   preventive action and for preventive measures
                                                   focusing on specific target groups, particularly
                                                   the young and those living on the fringes of
                                                   society, taking care to avoid stereotypes when
                                                   it comes to dependent persons.
 ---pagebreak---                                                  Recital 15b (new)
                                                 Recital 15c (ncw|
                                                 Whereas the level of knowledge concerning
                                                 drugs and dependent persons and their
                                                 consequences needs to lie improved, as do the
                                                 ways and means of preventing addiction and
                                                 reducing the risks associated thereto;
 16) Whereas, from an operational point of
view, the investment made in the past in terms
of both the establishment of Community
networks of non-governmental organisations
and of the mobilisation of all those involved
in preventing drug dependence should be
safeguarded and developed;
                                                 Recital 16a
                                                 Whereas the involvement in the
                                                 implementation of the programme of public.
                                                 private, non-governmental and voluntary
                                                 organisations, and of therapeutic communities
                                                 and various associations should accordingly be
                                                 encouraged;
 17) Whereas, however, possible duplication of
effort should be avoided by the promotion of
exchanges of experience and by the joint
development of basic information modules for
the public, for health education and for
training members of health professions;
 18) Whereas, in order to increase the value
and impact of the programme, a continuous
assessment of the measures undertaken should
be carried out, with particular regard to their
effectiveness and the achievement of
objectives both at national and Community
 levels and, where appropriate, to make the
necessary amendments;
 19) Whereas this programme should last five
years in order to allow sufficient time to carry
out the actions required to achieve the
objectives set;
                                                 Recital 19a |ncw| '
                                                 Whereas this Decision establishes for the
                                                 duration of the programme an overall budget
                                                 which constitutes a preferential point of
                                                 reference, pursuant to point 1 of the
                                                 Declaration by the European Parliament, the
                                                 Council and the Commission of 6 March
                                                  1995, for the budgetary authority for the
                                                 purposes of the annual budget procedure.
 HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
 ---pagebreak---                                                 Recital 15b |nov|
Article 1
A Community action programme on the
prevention of drug dependence is adopted for
a five-year period from                to
.\rticle 2
 1. The programme will involve the following
areas of activities:
a) improving public awareness, in particular    Article 2/1
by means of coordinated transnational actions,  a) working to improve public awareness of the
                                                phenomenon of drug dependence and the risks
                                                associated with this, in particular by means of
                                                coordinated transnational actions;
b) using the opportunities provided in other
Community policies, programmes and
instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and
combat drug dependence;
c) initiatives and actions relating to young    c) initiatives and actions relating to young
people of school-going age in relevant          people in their relevant - environment, home,
environments - home, leisure and school - and   leisure, school and university - and the
the promotion of best practices in this regard. promotion of best practices in this regard.
                                                d) (ncw)action targeted at high-risk groups
                                                e) (new)working to improve the level of
                                                knowledge concerning drugs and dependence
                                                and their consequences and concerning the
                                                ways and means of preventing addiction and
                                                reducing the risks associated thereto;
                                                f) Inewl working to improve training and to
                                                step up cooperation on the prevention of drug
                                                dependence and on the reduction of the risks
                                                associated thereto;
 2. The Commission shall ensure
 implementation of the activities set out in
 paragraph 1 and in the Annex, in accordance
 with Article 4, and in close cooperation with
 the Member States and the institutions and
 organisations active in the prevention of drug
 dependence.
 3. The Commission shall also ensure that the
 activities undertaken take due account of the
 information activities of the European
 Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug
 Addiction.
 ---pagebreak---                                                   Recital 15b jncwj
                                                  Article 2.3 a |ncw|
                                                  The Commission shall also ensure, in
                                                  conjunction with the Member States, that due
                                                  account is taken of Community priorities and
                                                  requirements in the programmes of the
                                                  EMCDDA.
                                                  Article 2.4 (new|
                                                  The Commission and the Member States shall
                                                  ensure that there is consistency between this
                                                  programme and the EU plan for action against
                                                  drugs where it addresses the reduction of
                                                  demand.
Article 3                                         Article 3
The budgetary authority shall determine the       1. The budget for the implementation of this
appropriations available for each financial       programme for the period stipulated in Article
year.                                             1, shall be set at ECU 28.5 million.
                                                  2. The annual appropriations shall be
                                                  authorised by the budgetary authority within
                                                  the limits of the financial perspective.
Article 4
For the implementation of the programme the
Commission shall be assisted by an advisory
committee, hereinafter referred to as "the
Committee", comprising two representatives
from each Member State and chaired by a
Commission representative.
The representative of the Commission shall
submit to the Committee a draft set of the
measures to be taken. The Committee shall
deliver its opinion on the draft within a time
limit which the chairman may lay down
according to the urgency of the matter, if
necessary bv taking a vote.
 The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes;
in addition, each Member State shall have the
right to ask to have its position recorded in the
minutes
The Commission shall take the utmost account
of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It
shall inform the Committee of the manner in
which its opinion has been taken into account.
Article 5
1 In the course of the implementation of the
programme, cooperation with non-member
countries, and with international organisations
active in the field of public health, will be
encouraged.
 ---pagebreak---                                                   Recital 15b |new|
2. The EFT A countries and the countries from     2. This programme shall be open lo the
Central and Eastern Europe may be associated      participation of the associated countries of
with the activities under the programme under     Central and Eastern Europe in accordance
the conditions set out in the agreements          with the conditions set out in the additional
concluded with the Community.                     protocols to the association agreements
                                                  covering particpation in Community
                                                  programmes to be signed with these countries.
                                                  This programme shall also be open to Cyprus
                                                  and Malta on the basis of additional
                                                  appropriations and according to the same rules
                                                  as those applicable to the EFTA countries, in
                                                  accordance with procedures to be agreed on
                                                  with these countries.
3. The Commission shall cooperate with the
Council of Europe's Pompidou Group. It shall
inter alia strengthen its regular contacts with
international intergovernmental organisations
such as the World Health Organisation
(WHO), the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO), the International Labour Office
(1LO) and the United Nations Drug Control
Programme (UNDCP).
Article 6
 1. The Commission shall regularly publish
information on the actions undertaken in the
context of this programme.
2. The Commission shall submit to the
European Parliament, the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions a mid-term report
on the actions undertaken, as well as an
overall report at the end of the programme.
Article 7
This decision shall enter into force on the 20th
 day following that of its publication in the
 Official Journal of the European Communities.
 ANNEX
 Programme activities:
 a) Improving public awareness in particular by   a) - working to improve public awareness of
 means of coordinated transnational actions.      the phenomenon of drug dependence and the
 Activities under this heading might model on     risks associated with this, in particular by
 the European Drug Prevention Week,               means of coordinated transnational actions;
 particularly relevant to highlight and stimulate
Community and transnational efforts and on           - support for projects to assess the
 previous coordinated transnational actions.      effectiveness of information campaigns and
                                                  determine the awareness of Europeans,
                                                  especially the young, with regard to drugs,
                                                  including changes in their attitudes towards
                                                  drugs;
 ---pagebreak---                                                  Recital 15b |new|
                                                 - ihe organisation of further Iuiopean Drug
                                                 Prevention Weeks on the basis ol information
                                                 to date;
                                                 - identifying, testing and developing the most
                                                 effective methods of conveying
                                                 information, especially to certain groups, in
                                                 particular bv:
                                                 - promoting the use of purpose-prepared
                                                 information for particular target environments
                                                 and groups;
                                                  - support for action to adapt messages to the
                                                 needs and specific characteristics of
                                                 particularly vulnerable groups.
                                                 - support the development of help-lines and
                                                 examining the feasibility of introducing a
                                                 single telephone number for such serviocs in
                                                 all the Member States,
b) Using opportunities provided in other         b) Using opportunities provided in other
Community policies, programmes and               Community policies, programmes and
instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and    instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and
combat drug dependence. This could be            combat drug dependence. The Commission
relevant in areas such as social affairs,        and the Member States shall ensure
particularly concerning migrants, poverty,       consistency and complementarity between the
employment, protection of workers' health, and   action to be pursued under this programme
safety and the Structural Funds including        and under other relevant Community actions
Community initiatives; the single market and     and initiatives, including Socrates. Leonardo
consumer policy, particularly as regards drug    and Youth for Europe III, the research
precursors, pharmaceutical and medicinal         programme in the field of biomedicine and
products and dangerous substances and            health under the Community's framework R &
preparations; education and training; activities D programme, and the Structural Funds.
in the field of culture, communication and       Particular attention will be paid to prevention
information, research and health systems, on     projects likely to have an impact on the social
addiction behaviour as described in the          causes of drug-taking, e.g. deprivation and
Commission proposal for a specific RTD           exclusion, and to contribute to ihe social
programme and in the area of biomedicine and     reintegration of dependent persons
health (1994-1998) and, of course, other
programmes based on Article 129 e.g. AIDS
and other communicable diseases, health
promotion, information, education and
training.
 ---pagebreak---                                                   Recital 15b (new)
c) Initiatives and actions relating to young      c) Initiatives and actions relating to young
people of school-going age in relevant            people in relevant environments - home,
environments - home, leisure and school - and     leisure, university and school - and the
the promotion of best practices in this regard.   promotion of best practices in this regard:
Young people are considered as the primary
target group for the purpose of drug              -spécifie support in particular to the
prevention. The diversity of the preventive       dissemination of information and advice
approaches adopted can provide examples of        directed towards young people in high-risk
good practices which help those responsible in    areas and in all environments where they are
the field of drug prevention in Member States     likely to come into contact with the problem,
to leam from experience elsewhere. A specific
support in particular to the dissemination of     - support for the creation of a Community
information and advice directed towards           network based on a selection by Member
young people in relevant environments -           States of schools located in areas at risk;
home, leisure, school - is therefore likely to be
of most value.                                    - support for integrated projects, programmes
                                                  and other drug prevention initiatives in the
                                                  schools involved in this network, with the
                                                  participation wherever possible of children,
                                                  young people and parents;
                                                  -d) [new]Specific risk groups:
                                                  - support for studies (particularly for
                                                  evaluation purposes') and actions, and
                                                  promotion of exchange of experience on the
                                                  ways and means of preventing the risks
                                                  associated with drug dependence, including
                                                  backup health easures such as substitution
                                                  programmes, targeting in particular the
                                                  IVDUs. dependent women who are pregnant
                                                  and addict detainees;
                                                  - encouraging exchange of information and
                                                  experience on how to prevent relapse, and
                                                  also covering rehabilitation;
                                                    support for the compilation of a Community
                                                   guide listing organisations involved in the
                                                  management of drug addicts and giving
                                                  practical details concerning capacity and range
                                                  of services available.
                                                  e) [new]working to improve the level of
                                                  knowledge concerning drugs and dependence
                                                  and their consequences and concerning the
                                                   ways and means of preventing addiction and
                                                   reducing the risks associated thereto,
                                                   - developing a research strategy on drugs,
                                                   particularly in order to improve knowledge
                                                   concerning the impact of policies targeting
                                                   drug users in the field of public health, and
                                                   concerning the effects of drugs and the use of
                                                   treatment techniques in prevention.
 ---pagebreak--- Recital 15b [new|
- support lor pilot projects and studies on the
social factors which may trigger the use of
drugs;
f) working to improve training and to step up
cooperation on the prevention of drug
dependence and on the reduction of the risks
associated thereto;
- seeking to establish drugs prevention more
firmly as an integral part of the vocational
training of teachers and youth workers;
- promote the development of the skills of
those people likely to come into contact with
groups of users or potential users, and support
the development of additional training
programmes, of educational material and
modules for people likely to come into contact
with drug users, including in particular those
working in the social, health, police and legal
professions.
- encouraging a common focus on the policies
and programmes pursued by the Member
States to combat the phenomenon of drug
dependence, with a view to achieving greater
coordination in this field;
 - support for exchanges of information and
experience, particularly on a regional cross-
border basis, concerning local prevention
 initiatives, with a view to developing joint
actions, and support for the organisation of a
 seminar on prevention models and practices in
 towns in different Member States which are
 particularly affected by the problem of drugs
           10
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(95) 579 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                           05
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-617-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-96368-9
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