Ivor Callely
Question:130 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the likely developments of the European Union in the fight against drug trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8251/98]
Written Answers. - Drug Trafficking.
The European Union and its member states continue to be aware of the major threat which illicit narcotic and psychotropic drugs pose to its citizens, in particular, its young people. While much has been achieved in recent years, the European Union will continue to work actively on a practical and flexible response in tackling drug trafficking, production and cultivation, preventing the use of drugs and reducing the adverse consequences of drug abuse and to ensure action against drugs remains a high priority.
Action against drugs has been a priority for the UK which currently holds the Presidency of the EU. Particular attention has been given to: priorities for 1998-9 and elaboration of the key elements of a post-1999 EU drugs strategy; co-ordination of the EU input to the preparations for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs, 8-10 June 1998; further implementation of regional initiatives in Latin America-Caribbean and Central Asia.
Twenty EU priorities have been identified for 1998-1999. These priorities should: devote particular attention to emerging trends in the illicit production and abuse of synthetic drugs and support continued implementation of the Joint Action on new synthetic drugs; ratify and implement the Europol Convention; ratify the customs information system, CIS, and Naples II Conventions by end-1998 and end-1999 respectively; review of Joint Action on memoranda of understanding between customs and business; continue to run customs joint surveillance exercises and to encourage joint law enforcement projects; consider both the positive and negative impacts on drug misuse of new technology, in particular, the Internet.
Most of these 20 priorities will continue to be areas of priority action for the EU drugs strategy post-1999. In addition, 12 key elements for a post-1999 EU drugs strategy have been delineated — the post-1999 strategy should,inter alia: assess the effectiveness of and progress on existing strategies and activities; ensure a balanced approach between demand reduction and supply reduction, so that each reinforces the other, in an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the drugs problem; provide support and added value to member states, efforts in preventing and tackling drug abuse and drug trafficking; acknowledge the value of, promote and support a multi-agency, multidisciplinary and partnership approach in all aspects of the fight against drugs.
A report on activities on drugs and drug related issues during the UK Presidency will be forwarded to the European Council in June. This report will include the key elements of a post-1999 EU drugs strategy as an annex.
An important new aspect of the EU's fight against organised crime, including drug trafficking, has been the work of the multidisciplinary group on organised crime which is taking forward the recommendations contained in the EU's action plan to combat organised crime. A separate progress report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the EU action plan is also being submitted to the European Council.
The EU is continuing to develop its relations with the applicant countries in the context of the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. A particular emphasis was placed on the issues of drugs and organised crime at the first meeting of the European conference, Heads of State-Government, on 12 March 1998 which brought together EU member states and states aspiring to accede to the Union. The conference agreed to convene a meeting of experts from all conference countries and the European Commission to consider urgently problems related to drugs and organised crime. A first meeting of the experts group is due to be held in June 1998. A pre-accession pact on organised crime with the countries of central and eastern Europe and Cyprus is to be adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in May.
The Treaty of Amsterdam is another important element in the EU's fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. It sets out a more specific mandate for closer co-operation between police forces, customs and other law enforcement authorities in EU member states. This co-operation will take place directly between the law enforcement agencies in member states and through Europol. In this context, I expect the Irish electorate to vote for the necessary constitutional amendments which will enable Ireland to ratify the treaty.