EU drug policy should be science-based

Giusto CATANIA (GUE/NGL, IT)

Proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the European strategy on fighting drugs (2005-2012)

(2004/2221(INI)) Doc.: A6-0067/2004 Procedure : Own-initiative Debate : 14.12.2004 Vote : 15.12.2004

Vote

With a narrow margin of 285 votes in favour, 273 against with 23 abstentions, Parliament adopted a recommendation to the Council on the European strategy on fighting drugs (2005-2012). MEPs stress that problems such as drug trafficking and drug abuse cannot be solved by each country acting alone, so the EU needs to adopt a common strategy to tackle drug problems. However, they also want national drug policies to be based on scientific knowledge about each type of drug, not on "an emotional response".

The EU Summit (or European Council) is set to adopt a new EU Drugs Strategy for 2005-2012 on 17 December. MEPs are urging the summit to revamp existing European cooperation on drugs policy so as to tackle cross-border and large-scale drug trafficking and to take account of all the implications of the problem, using a scientific approach. It says the new drugs strategy should not be adopted until the results of the previous strategy are known.

MEPs want the Council to propose measures totally different from those currently being used to achieve overall EU drugs strategy goals. For example, they want priority to be given to protecting the lives and health of users of illicit substances and improving their wellbeing and protection. They add that the Council should make harm reduction programmes more widely available, especially to prevent the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among drug users. MEPs also want the Council to set minimum standards for rehabilitation measures instead of placing too much emphasis on treatment with drug substitutes.

Information and prevention should be stressed, and measures should be taken to protect the lives and health of people with drug problems and prevent them being marginalised. Parliament is keen for rehabilitation programmes to be set up for offenders and users as alternatives to prison and it urges governments to do more to prevent drugs entering prisons. Parliament adopted an amendment by Dutch MEP Sophia IN’T VELD (ALDE) recommending to the Council to take account of the encouraging results achieved by various Member States and other European countries, that are implementing alternative drugs policies.

MEPs call on the Council to boost funding for science-based information campaigns and to fund consultations with civil society organisations and professionals about the impact of drug policies.

Following the arrival of ten new Member States, more cooperation is needed with the states on the EU’s new frontiers as these are closer to the countries where drugs originate.

The Council is also urged to take steps to prevent the profits from illegal drug trafficking being used to fund international terrorism, and to apply current legislation on confiscating goods and fighting money laundering. In this respect, MEPs feel the Council should support Italian anti-mafia legislation which authorises the assets confiscated from criminal organisations to be redeployed for community projects. Parliament considers drug production and trade to be the main source of profit for European mafia, a source that contributes to the mafia’s capacity for corruption and impunity. MEPs would like to increase development aid to drug-producing countries through programmes to fund sustainable alternative crops and increase research into the use of plants like hemp, opium and coca leaves for medical applications, food security and other beneficial purposes.

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