Brussels, 15/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission adopted a proposal for an action plan for 2005-2008 against drugs. Presented in the form of a table with a timetable for the different actions, the action plan above all proposes coordination, exchange of best practice and research. Thus, in 2007, Member States are expected to assess programmes for reducing demand and to verify whether drug prevention is included in school programmes.
The action plan also suggests developing operational cooperation between the police forces of Member States and announces a number of recommendations for common minimum norms. The European Commission will, in 2007, make a recommendation for prevention programmes and for treatment in prisons. In 2007, Member States will examine the possibility of setting up a fund intended for the financing of common projects for fighting drug abuse, to be financed by the confiscation of financial proceeds from drugs. By 2008, the Council is expected to adopt minimum standards for the treatment of drug addicts on the basis of a proposal from the Commission.
By 2007, each Member State should appoint a coordinator for cooperation in the field of drugs, and each State should adopt a national action plan on the basis of the European plan. A Eurobarometer survey on the attitude of young people towards drugs will be carried out in 2008.
Drawn up on the basis of the multi-annual strategy adopted by the European Council in December 2005, the action plan must be endorsed by the Council, the Commission explains. The European Commission is adamant in its communication about the fact that implementation of the various actions will be assessed.