EUROPA

SUMMARY

The death rate from drug addiction in Europe is very high. It is essential to measure the immediate and long-term consequences of drug use on health and social and psychological development, and the equality of the chances of the individuals concerned.

The objectives of the 'Drug prevention and information' programme set up by the European Union are to:

• prevent and reduce drug use, drug addiction and the associated inherent risks;
• improve information about drug use;
• support the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy;
• promote transnational actions;
• involve civil society in the implementation and development of the European Union Strategy on Drugs;
• control, implement and assess the action plans.

The 2007-2013 programme supports:

• projects designed to prevent drug use;
• actions aiming at reducing drug-related harm;
• the use of treatments applying the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.

The European Community supplements the work carried out by the Member States with actions focusing on information and prevention.

Scope

This programme supports:

• the actions implemented by the Commission (research, surveys, conferences, campaigns, public events, analysis, Internet sites, etc.);
• transnational projects of Community interest;
• the activities of non-governmental organisations and other bodies pursuing aims of general European interest;

The actions developed under this programme are open to:

• European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States which are parties to the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement;
• candidate countries;
• Western Balkan countries included in the stabilisation and association process;
• organisations working in the area of drug use prevention and information;
• profit-oriented organisations, as long as they are working in conjunction with public or non-profit organisations;
• Non-EU Member Countries or candidate countries and international organisations that are not participating in the programme but that may be associated with the projects.

The programme is targeted at all groups implicated in drug use, but most particularly at:

• young people and women;
• vulnerable groups and people living in socially disadvantaged areas;
• parents, teachers and educational staff, social workers;
• judicial staff and law enforcement and penitentiary authorities;
• medical and paramedical personnel;
• local and national authorities;
• non-governmental organisations, trade unions and religious communities.

Financing

The programme has a budget for 2007-2013 of EUR 21.35 million. Grants are awarded by the Commission following calls for proposals, taking into account:

• the conformity of the proposed action with the annual work programme;
• the consistency of the expected results with the programme objectives;
• the sum asked for and whether it is appropriate to the expected results;
• the geographical and social impact of the action and its likely effect on the public;
• citizen involvement in the organisation of the bodies concerned.

Monitoring, implementation and protection of the Community's interests

The Commission is required to:

• adopt an annual work programme, taking into account the expertise of the Centre (EMCDDA);
• publish an annual list of projects financed;
• inform the Parliament of the results of votes, committee reports and implementation procedures;
• lay down guidelines for making Community financing visible;
• make sure that beneficiaries submit progress reports and a final report;
• require beneficiaries to justify failures to observe time limits;
• check that actions financed are actually implemented, taking steps to prevent fraud, corruption and any other illegal activity;
• control expenditures and reduce or cancel support or demand repayment of sums already disbursed if irregularities are discovered.

The Commission also ensures a regular independent external evaluation of the programme, and presents to Parliament and the Council:

• an annual implementation report;
• an interim evaluation report on the results obtained (by 31 March 2011);
• a communication on the continuation of the programme (by 30 August 2012);
• an ex-post evaluation report (by 31 December 2014).

Context

The EU has launched a number of initiatives in its fight against drugs, including:

• The Public Health Action Programme (2003-2008), which focuses on strategies and measures relating to drug addiction.
• The Council's Recommendation to the Member States on the prevention and reduction of drug-related risks and the development and implementation of global strategies.
• The EU Drugs Strategy (2005-2012), which covers all the actions undertaken by the EU (measures aiming to achieve a high level of health protection, well-being and social cohesion).
• The EU Drugs Action Plan (2000-2004), which demonstrated the need to consult civil society more regularly, and the 2005-2008 version, which aims to reduce drug use and the social harm and health damage caused by the use of and trade in illicit drugs.