Brussels, 25/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 24 September, the French Presidency of the EU inaugurated the centre for fighting drug trafficking in the Mediterranean (Centre de Coordination de la Lutte Anti-Drogue en Méditerranée - CECLAD-M). The creation of this new body aims at: improving the fight against drug trafficking in the Mediterranean and reducing the availability of narcotics; enhancing relations between northern and southern Mediterranean countries; implementing international coordination in intelligence and interception; developing prospects for creating a network of existing international instruments. CECLAD-M will be in direct liaison with other similar bodies (MAOC-N/Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre - Narcotics based in Lisbon and JIATF/Joint Inter-agency Task Force - US, which is part of the EU project on pooling resources in combating drug trafficking. (B.C./transl.rh)