EU Drugs Action Plan (2013-16)

This action plan sets five priorities in the fight against drugs: reducing demand, reducing supply, EU-wide and national coordination, international cooperation, and a better understanding of the drugs phenomenon.

ACT

EU Action Plan on Drugs for 2013-2016

SUMMARY

The 2013-16 EU Drugs Action Plan is the first of two plans designed to implement the EU Drugs Strategy for 2013-20. The strategy aims to reduce both supply and demand and to address the social and health damage caused by drug use and the drug trade.

Based on the framework set out in the EU Drugs Strategy, the action plan covers five priority areas:

Reduced demand

Aim: a measurable fall in overall and problem drug use, dependence and drug-related social and health damage, delaying the onset of drug use.

• Prevent drug use/delay the onset of drug use.
• Improve drug treatment and rehabilitation to reduce the use of illicit drugs, drug dependency and the harm caused by drugs, as well as support the recovery and social integration or reintegration of drug users.
• Ensure best practices are shared and minimum quality standards are agreed across the EU for demand reduction measures.

Reduced supply

Aim: a measurable reduction in the availability and supply of illicit drugs in the EU.

• Use to best effect available intelligence and information-sharing instruments so as to improve drugs law enforcement across the EU.
• Step up cooperation between EU countries' justice authorities and strengthen EU laws in regard to, for example, new psychoactive drugs and precursors.
• Draw up a strategy to address the role of new communication technologies and the hosting of associated websites in relation to the supply of drugs.

Improved coordination

Aim: more effective coordination of drugs policies involving national governments, European institutions, other EU bodies (e.g. Europol and European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction), citizens' groups, international organisations and non-EU countries. Of particular importance are actions to ensure that:

• internal and external EU drugs policies are consistent;
• national policymaking on drugs takes a balanced and integrated approach and involves citizens (e.g. youth groups).

Strengthened international cooperation

Aim: dialogue and cooperation between the EU, non-EU countries and international organisations.

• Integrate the EU's Drugs Strategy into its overall foreign policy.
• Help shape the UN drugs policy agenda and strengthen EU coordination with international bodies working in the field.
• Assist countries waiting to join the EU, or any prospective candidates, to adapt to EU laws in the drugs area.

Improved understanding of the drugs phenomenon

Aim: sound and comprehensive evidence on which to base drugs policies and actions.

• Invest in research, data collection, monitoring, evaluation and the exchange of information on drugs.
• Maintain and develop capacity within and across the network of organisations providing information about and undertaking research into drugs in the EU, as well as those monitoring and evaluating developments in this field.
• Improve dissemination of research and evaluation results.

The Action Plan for 2017-20 will be drawn up by 2016, following a mid-term review of the EU Drugs Strategy.

REFERRED DOCUMENT

EU Drugs Strategy (2013-20)

last update 17.03.2014