Brussels, 10/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Drug abuse and drugs trafficking is becoming a worldwide scourge to be combated mainly through international cooperation. The European Economic and Social Committee (ESC) has therefore drawn up an additional own-initiative Opinion (to complete its own initiative Opinion of 25 January 1995) on the Commission's communication entitled "Action Plan to Combat Drugs (2000-2004)". The Opinion, for which the rapporteur is Jillian Hassett (Various Interests, Ireland), was adopted by the Committee during its last plenary session of 1999, on 8 December.
Action to combat drug abuse and drugs requires an overall, multi-disciplinary and integrated response and is a goal that cannot be disassociated from that of creating an "area of freedom, security and justice", like a priority in public health matters, cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs and international cooperation, recalls Mrs Hassett. On the whole, the Opinion welcomes the Commission communication. Nonetheless, the Committee expresses great concern that the Action Plan 2000-2004 has not identified the financial means for its application. This is important for ensuring a balanced approach between reducing demand for drugs as well as the supply, while duly taking the responsibilities of Member States into account.
In particular, the Committee advocates: - the rallying of all available police and legal resources against traffickers and criminal organisations and the stepping up of intervention; - special attention to the harmonisation of legislation as well as to legal, customs and police cooperation; - that the police, teaching staff and rehabilitation services should act preventively and in a concerted manner; - analysis and identification of the impact of drugs in order to have a clear picture of what effectively happens on the ground; - that the Commission carry out a study on the socio-economic factors which influence the development of drug consumption and that it implement an action plan aimed at promoting safe use of the Internet.
Finally, the Committee notes that resorting to drugs is often symptomatic among young people who feel excluded or isolated. It therefore calls on the Commission to identify appropriate mechanisms for reaching these young people and establishing a link with them. It is clear, concludes the Committee, that better coordination between the various services working with children and young people at every level, including Community level, is needed in order to check this scourge.