1.

Ensure that a balanced and integrated approach is reflected in national policies and in the EU approach towards third countries and in international fora

1.

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

2.

Ensure effective coordination at EU level

2.

The Council's Horizontal Drugs Group (HDG), as the working group with leading and steering responsibility for drugs in the Council, should pro-actively coordinate EU drug policy. The HDG should identify specific areas of work in other Council working groups and work towards effective coordination

3.

The Commission and Council to ensure coherence between internal and external drug policy

4.

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

5.

Presidency to convene meetings of the national drugs coordinators or their equivalents on a regular basis to advance coordination on specific and urgent issues requiring action. The coordinators to be invited to contribute to the Council's annual examination of the state of the drugs problem (see Action 4 above)

3.

Ensure effective coordination at national level

6.

Taking into account the work on Drugs coordination mechanisms in all EU Member States made by EMCDDA, Member States to examine inter-departmental coordination on drugs to ensure that coordinated positions are presented at EU level and that the objectives of the EU Action Plan are relayed to the most effective implementing level

4.

Ensure the participation of civil society in drugs policy

7.

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

8.

The Commission to launch an initiative, ‘The European Alliance on Drugs’, inviting civil society organisations across the EU (including e.g. schools, commercial enterprises, public bodies and NGOs) to participate in a common framework designed to create public commitment about and to take action on drug problems in society.

9.

Member States to involve civil society at all appropriate levels of drugs policy, in accordance with national practices

5.

Prevent the use of drugs and the risks associated with it

10.

To promote innovation in and systematically make available evidence-based and evaluated universal prevention programmes and interventions in different settings (e.g. towards young people in youth centres, and schools and towards adults in workplace and prison), aiming to prevent or delay first use of drugs. Prevention should also cover poly-drug use (combined use of illicit and licit substances, in particular alcohol) as well as drugs and driving

6.

Prevent high risk behaviour of drug users — including injecting drug users — through targeted prevention

11.

To further develop early detection and intervention techniques and implement effective, evaluated selective prevention for vulnerable groups at high risk of developing drug problems, including injecting drug use

12.

To further develop and implement effective, evaluated indicative prevention for specific high-risk groups of (poly-) drug users, by offering low-threshold access to counselling, problem behaviour management and outreach work where relevant

7.

Enhance the effectiveness of drug treatment and rehabilitation by improving the availability, accessibility and quality of services

13.

Increase the effectiveness and spread of evidence-based drug treatment options covering a variety of psychosocial and pharmacological approaches, corresponding to the needs of drug users (including relevant treatment adapted to new drugs or types of use)

14.

To deliver existing and develop innovative rehabilitation and social re-integration programmes that have measurable outcomes

15.

To publicise, where appropriate the existence of treatment and rehabilitation services and the variety of options these services offer at national, regional and local level for potential target audiences

16.

To increase the use of, monitor implementation and further develop effective alternatives to prison for drug-using offenders

8.

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

17.

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

18.

Member States to survey the availability and effectiveness of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and rehabilitation services, in responding to specific needs, on the basis of a methodological framework to be developed by the Commission — with the support of the EMCDDA — and that is compatible with existing methodologies

19.

To develop an EU consensus on minimum quality standards and bench-marks for prevention, treatment, harm reduction and rehabilitation interventions and services taking into account needs of specific groups and the work done at national and international level

20.

To develop, as appropriate, services for minorities, including, for example, migrants

9.

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

21.

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

22.

Member States to endorse and implement in prison settings indicators to monitor drug use, drug-related health problems and drug services delivery on the basis of a methodological framework developed by the Commission — with the support of the EMCDDA that is compatible with existing methodologies, and taking into account the work done by the UNODC (in the project area of HIV/AIDS and treat.net) and by WHO (Health in prisons)

10.

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

23.

To provide access to, and improve coverage of, harm reduction services and the variety of options these services offer options as an integral part of drug demand reduction, making use of interventions of proven effectiveness where available (6)

11.

Enhance effective law enforcement cooperation in the EU to counter drug production and trafficking

24.

To target criminal organisations and emerging threats, using an intelligence-led approach (based on the European Criminal Intelligence Model (ECIM) methodology) that prioritises the criminal networks and markets that pose the most serious threats

25.

Multidisciplinary law enforcement operations, involving Europol and Eurojust, as well as police, customs and border control services, will be used to a greater extent through bilateral and multilateral cooperation initiatives, joint investigation teams (JIT) and joint customs operations (JCO). Member States will examine which measures are possible to facilitate and speed up the process and encourage greater use of these instruments in drugs cases

26.

To improve the quality of intelligence data provided via Europol National Units to Europol and its related projects including Analysis Work Files (AWF). The emphasis should be on the serious organised crime and cooperation from those Member States most highly impacting upon the wider EU drug markets

27.

Implementation of drugs related COSPOL projects, paying special attention to:

28.

The European Police College (CEPOL) (7) to provide relevant advanced training (8) for senior police and customs officers and for liaison officers in 3rd countries through national police training colleges

29.

To make more systematic use of Member State liaison officers and liaison magistrates, where appropriate, in third countries for the exchange of information and intelligence between MS law enforcement agencies and Europol taking into account the Council Decision 2003/170/JHA of the 27 February 2003 on the common use of liaison officers posted abroad by the law enforcement agencies of the Member States in the version of 24 July 2006, Council Decision 2006/560/JHA

30.

To adopt and implement an EU-wide system for the forensic profiling in relation to drugs law enforcement for synthetic drugs and for other drugs, where appropriate, drawing on, inter alia, the experience gained through projects such as SYNERGY and CHAIN, the structure and expertise of Europol and the Commission's Joint Research Centre, and ongoing MS law enforcement activities and experiences in this area

12.

Enhance effective judicial cooperation in the area of combating drug trafficking and law enforcement as regards production, trafficking of drugs and/or precursors, and money laundering related to this traffic

31.

To encourage the full use of the existing EU instruments on mutual assistance requests in criminal matters, of European arrest warrants, and of sanctions issued by MS jurisdictions

32.

Member States to consider, where appropriate, to develop witness protection programmes and to explore the potential added value of joint cooperation in this field

33.

To strengthen the cooperation among EU Member States in order to achieve the full application of the legal instruments relating to mutual recognition of confiscation orders

34.

To support the establishment of effective Asset Recovery Offices in the Member States in accordance with the Council Decision 2007/845/JHA and to further support the Member States involved through the CARIN network. To support investigations through Europol and related Europol AWFs

13.

Respond rapidly and effectively at operational, policy and political levels to emerging threats (e.g. emerging drugs, new routes)

35.

To set up, where necessary, regional security platforms (e.g. MAOC-N, Baltic Sea TF) to counter emerging threats by means of coordinated operational responses. Such action to be compatible with existing legal and operational arrangements at EU level and based on specific threat assessments (see also Action 48). New platforms should be set up without overlapping and be compatible with existing structures

36.

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

14.

Reduce the manufacture and supply of synthetic drugs

37.

Member States to actively maintain law enforcement cooperation/joint operations in this area and to share intelligence and best practices. Optimal use to be made of Europol's Analytical Work File SYNERGY, its components (9) and the associated EJUP and COSPOL initiatives

15.

Reduce the diversion and trafficking in/via the EU of drug precursors used for the manufacturing of illicit drugs

38.

The EU to develop a clear and unified position on this matter at international level and in the relevant international fora, based on existing legislation and cooperative practices with the private sector through effective coordination through the relevant Council committees

39.

Customs and border control services to integrate precursor controls at a strategic level, enhancing the effectiveness of border control management through implementing the Community Risk Management, and to coordinate more closely with other law enforcement agencies engaged in combating drug production and trafficking

40.

The EU to give full support to international operational cooperation aimed at preventing the diversion of drug precursors, such as the INCB-led projects PRISM and COHESION. The operational cooperation among the investigation authorities within the EU is to be supported by the EJUP cooperation framework and the Europol-AWF co-operation framework. This cooperation framework should be further intensified/utilised

41.

From a law enforcement and intelligence-led perspective, the EU and Members States to fully support Europol's drug related projects and EJUP, with a view to combating criminal networks involved in precursor trafficking

42.

To evaluate EU drug precursor control legislation and its implementation

43.

The EU to develop and exploit, where possible in consultation with Europol, cooperation agreements with principal identified source countries of main synthetic drug precursors

44.

The Commission, OLAF, Europol, EJUP and COSPOL to enhance inter-disciplinary cooperation, with a view to establishing joint initiatives.

16.

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

45.

To ensure that EU relations with third countries reflect the objectives of the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plans

46.

To improve the effectiveness of existing frameworks on drugs such as the Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism between the EU and LAC, the EU-Andean Specialised Dialogue and of ‘Drug Troikas’ with third countries and regions, by identifying specific areas of cooperation and establishing outcome indicators

47.

In line with the EU's political decisions and strategies and with the support of the MS and EC assistance programmes, to address drug-related concerns in producer countries and those along (emerging) trafficking routes, such as West Africa, through projects aimed at reducing the demand for and the supply of drugs, including measures of alternative development, and preventing the diversion of chemical precursors. The assistance is to be coordinated, where appropriate, to the drug action plans between the EU and third countries and regions (see Actions 51 and 60)

48.

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

49.

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

50.

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

51.

To update and implement the EU Drug Action Plans for the Central Asian Republics (10); Latin America and the Caribbean (11); and Western Balkans and Candidate Countries (12)

52.

Utilise the Dublin Group consultative mechanism and maintain an active dialogue with third countries for the implementation of Mini Dublin Groups' recommendations

17.

Promote and implement the EU approach to alternative development (as defined in document 9597/06 CORDROGUE 44 and UNODC/CND/2008/WG.3/CRP.4) in cooperation with third countries, taking into account human rights, human security and specific framework conditions

53.

To intensify the financial support for the implementation of alternative development projects and programmes, making certain that interventions are properly sequenced and that development assistance is not conditional on reductions of illicit drug crop cultivation and finance initiatives for the prevention of illicit drug crop cultivation

54.

To include alternative development into the broader development agenda of Member States and encourage third countries to integrate alternative development in their national policies

55.

To contribute to initiatives within a drugs environment aiming at the reduction of poverty, conflict and vulnerability by supporting legal, viable and sustainable livelihoods

—

food security and income generation of the poor are increased,

—

access of poor people to social and productive infrastructure are improved

18.

Strengthen EU coordination in the multilateral context and promote an integrated and balanced approach

56.

To ensure better coordination and continuity between the HDG and MS delegations to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), including through the appropriate burden-sharing among Member States on the initiative of the Presidency

57.

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

58.

To present an EU position in the high-level segment of the 52nd CND on the evaluation of and follow-up to UNGASS '98 (14), reflecting the fundamental principles of EU drugs policy

59.

To coordinate activities with other international fora or programmes, in particular UNODC, Pompidou Group, WHO, UNAIDS, WCO and Interpol

19.

Support the candidate and stabilisation and association process countries

60.

To provide the necessary technical and other assistance to these countries to familiarise them with the EU acquis in the field of drugs and to assist them in carrying out the required actions, including those adopted in the drug action plan with the Western Balkans (15)

20.

To improve cooperation with European Neighbourhood Policy countries

61.

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

62.

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

21.

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

63.

The Council and Commission to:

22.

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

64.

Member States to provide Reitox (16) National Focal Points (NFP) with the necessary resources to meet the obligations and quality standards of EMCDDA membership. NFPs to contribute to the EMCDDA on the basis of annual agreements and with appropriate support from the EMCDDA

23.

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

65.

To further improve and fully implement the five EMCDDA key epidemiological indicators and the development of new indicators and measures in drug demand reduction

66.

To conduct a scientific study to assess the use of the internet as a tool in relation to illicit drug trafficking and to analyse which national, European and/or international measures may be effective to counteract

67.

To develop key-indicators for the collection of policy-relevant data on drug-related crime, illegal cultivation, drug markets and supply reduction interventions and to develop a strategy to collect them

68.

To develop analytical instruments to better assess the effectiveness and impact of drug policy (e.g. model evaluation tools, policy effectiveness indices, public expenditure analysis, etc.)

69.

To assess the functioning of Council Decision 2005/387/JHA on the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances, and amend, if necessary

24.

Ensure the ongoing evaluation of drug policy

70.

Member States to evaluate and fine-tune national drug policies on a regular or ongoing basis

71.

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

72.

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