On 8th December 2008 the European Council adopted the Action Plan of the European Union for 2009-2012 in the field of drugs which was proposed by the European Commission in September 2008. The text of the plan was published in the Official Journal of the European Union – C 326 / 20th December 2008. To help those of our site visitors who are interested in this important document we give them here the opportunity to copy from here the Bulgarian or the English version of the whole text of the Action Plan.
Here we present to you also part of the Action Plan, referring to the field of information, the scientific research and the evaluations, which is the basic subject of activity of the National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addictions.
V. INFORMATION, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EVALUATION 1
Main priority: Improving the understanding of all the aspects of the drug use phenomenon in order to extend the basis of knowledge of the purposes of public policy, raising the public awareness of the social and health aftermaths of drug use and conducting scientific research.
Objective:
21. Extending the basis of knowledge in the field of drugs by encouraging scientific research.
Action:
63. The Council and the Commission should:
— identify the future priorities of the scientific research of EC in the field of illicit drugs and the mechanisms necessary to acquire new knowledge;
— develop new approaches and technologies;
—strengthen the scientific and research capacity by developing and concentrating strategic tendencies, as well as undertaking steps to improve the collaboration within the EC.
Timetable:
2009
Responsible party:
Member States;
Commission;
EMCDDA;
Council.
Indicator:
Definite scientific and research priorities;
Independent and applied mechanisms.
Assessment tools:
Motions of the Commission of Scientific and Research Activity in the EC;
Conclusions made by the Council.
Objective:
22. Establishing exchange of exact and policy related information in the field of illicit drugs.
Action:
64. The Member States should establish national coordinating centers of Reitox 2 with the necessary resources for the implementation of the obligations and the standards for the quality of EMCDDA. The national coordinating centers should make their contribution to the ERMCDDA on the basis of annual agreements and with the respective support on the part of EMCDDA.
Timetable:
Ongoing.
Responsible party:
Member States;
EMCDDA.
Indicator:
Exchange of data necessary for the monitoring and for the assessment;
The extent to which the funding and the other means for Reitox meet the requirements;
The national coordinating centers make their contributions on the basis of the standards adopted.
Assessment tools:
The annual report of EMCDDA on the capacity of the national coordinating centers;
The national reports of Reitox.
Objective:
23. Further development of instruments for monitoring the drug-related situation and the efficacy of the respective measures.
Action:
65. The improvement and the full implementation of the five basic indicators of EMCDDA and the development of new indicators and measures to reduce drug demand should continue.
Timetable:
2012
Responsible party:
Member States;
EMCDDA;
Commission.
Indicator:
More thorough observation of the criteria for applying the basic indicators on the part of the Member States;
Improvement of the indicators for treatment demand and problem drug use (13);
Indicators/measures for rehabilitation and reintegration;
Measures to reduce drug demand;
Number of the Member States which fully apply the drug demand indicator.
Assessment tools:
Report of EMCDDA on meeting the requirements;
Documents of the Commission services about the drug related data.
Action:
66. A scientific research should be conducted aimed at assessing the use of Internet as a tool in relation to trafficking illicit drugs and to analyze which national, European and/or international measures can be effective regarding counteraction.
Timetable:
2010
Responsible party:
Member States;
Commission.
Indicator:
Results of the scientific study.
Assessment tools:
Report on the research by the Commission.
Action:
67. Key indicators should be developed about the collection of data necessary for the policy about the drug related crime, the illegal cultivation, the drug market and the intervention to reduce drug supply. A strategy to collect these data should be worked out.
Timetable:
Ongoing.
Responsible party:
Commission;
EMCDDA;
Europol;
Member States.
Indicator:
Determining the key indicators;
Developing strategy to apply them.
Assessment tools:
Documents of the Commission services about the drug related data.
Action:
68. Instruments for analysis should be developed so that a more objective evaluation can be made of the efficacy and the impact of the policy to combat drugs (e.g. instruments to evaluate the models, the efficacy indicators and the public expenditure, etc.).
Timetable:
2010
Responsible party:
Commission;
EMCDDA;
Member States.
Indicator:
Analytical instruments developed;
A more exact analysis of the drug related situation.
Assessment tools:
studies done by the Commission;
EMCDDA.
Action:
69. The efficacy of Decision 2005/387/ПВР of the Council about the exchange of information, the risk assessment and the monitoring of the new psychoactive substances should be evaluated and amended, if necessary.
Timetable:
2010
Responsible bodies:
Commission;
Council;
EMCDDA;
Europol;
EMEA.
Indicator:
Evaluation made;
Possible amendments proposed.
Assessment tools:
Report on assessment.
Objective:
24. To permanently present assessment of the policy to combat drugs.
Action:
70. The member states should make regular and current evaluation and improve the national policies to combat drugs.
Timetable:
Ongoing.
Responsible party:
Member States.
Indicator:
Number of the states which have made assessment of the policies to combat drugs.
Assessment tools:
Reports on the assessment published by the Member States.
Action:
71. An annual review of the progress of the action plan implementation and on the adapted/improved indicators and mechanisms for reporting the monitoring and evaluation made should be presented to the Council of the European Parliament when appropriate and necessary.
Timetable:
Annual;
Responsible party:
Commission;
EMCDDA;
Europol;
Member States;
Council.
Indicator:
The annual review of the progress has been prepared;
The respective indicators are available.
Assessment tools:
Review of the progress made by the Commission.
Action:
72. External, independent assessment of the EU Drugs Strategy implementation for the period 2005-2012 should be done and also of the Drugs Action Plan for the period 2009-2012, followed by a period of reflection before undertaking the next activities.
Timetable:
2012
Responsible party:
Commission;
Council;
Member States.
Indicator:
Assessment of the achievements according to the individual actions;
The impact of the drug related situation is known.
|
Assessment tools:
Report published about the external evaluation.
________________________
1 Official Journal of the European Union C 326 / 20.12.2008 page 23-25
2 National Focal Points