, nor for them to be worried about the process of defining the whole accession strategy which will start later this year once the European Commission has produced its opinion on the proposed form of negotiation. If you as members of the European Parliament are worried by the slow pace of the ratification procedure followed by some Member States, I suggest that everyone who knows national members of parliament who do not push those procedures forward adequately should get in touch with them and keep them on their toes!

President
Question No 19 by Jan Andersson (H-0020/97)
Subject: Initiatives to curb demand for drugs
Drug abuse is widespread in Europe. The trafficking and use of synthetic drugs is on the increase. Member States' views on how to combat drugs differ, but it is high time that the EU formulated a strategy to deal with the increase in abuse, which must include measures to curb both the supply of and the demand for drugs. The Netherlands Presidency's programme contains a number of general ideas for action on drugs, such as measures to combat drug trafficking and exchanges of experience of various preventive measures. Whilst this is commendable, no mention is made of measures to curb demand.
What practical measures will the Netherlands Presidency take in order to reduce demand for drugs?

Patijn
I should point out to the honourable member that under a decision of the European Parliament and Council on 16 December 1996 a Community action programme on the prevention of drug addiction was approved as part of measures in the field of health. This programme includes a whole range of incentives and support measures aimed at achieving this objective. The programme in question is geared broadly to two areas of action. Firstly, action to obtain and evaluate data, the objective being to improve knowledge about drugs, drug addiction and their consequences, together with knowledge of methods and means of preventing drug addiction and its attendant risks. This will be done in particular using information held by the European Drugs Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which was mentioned just now, and the resources available under existing Community programmes.
The second area of action is information, education and training, where the aim is to help improve information, education and training on drug addiction with a view to preventing drug addiction and its attendant risks. This will target young people in their own environment, at home, school, university, in their leisure pursuits, and it will target particularly vulnerable groups including former drug users. The Commission will be working on the finer detail of an action programme.
As the honourable member rightly supposes, the
, nor for them to be worried about the process of defining the whole entree scheme which will begin later this class once the European Commission has produced its impression on the proposed form of negotiation. If you as penis of the European Parliament are worried by the slow footstep of the ratification procedure followed by some Member States, I indicate that everyone who knows national member of parliament who do not crusade those procedures forward adequately should catch in touch with them and keep them on their toe! 

 President 
 Question No 19 by Jan Andersson (H-0020/97) 
 Subject: Initiatives to curb demand for drug 
 Drug abuse is far-flung in Europe. The trafficking and use of synthetic drugs is on the increase. Member States' view on how to combat drugs differ, but it is high time that the EU give voice a strategy to deal with the increase in abuse, which must include measures to curb both the supply of and the demand for drugs. The Netherlands Presidency's program contains a number of cosmopolitan idea for legal action on drugs, such as measures to combat drug trafficking and exchanges of experience of various preventive measures. Whilst this is commendable, no citation is made of measures to curb demand. 
 What practical measures will the Netherlands Presidency take in order to reduce demand for drugs? 

 Patijn 
 I should point out to the honorable member that under a decisiveness of the European Parliament and Council on 16 December 1996 a Community legal action programme on the prevention of drug addiction was approved as part of measures in the plain of health. This programme includes a whole range of incentives and support measures aimed at achieve this objective. The programme in question is geared broadly to two areas of military action. Firstly, military action to obtain and measure data, the objective being to better knowledge about drugs, drug addiction and their consequence, in concert with knowledge of methods and means of prevent drug addiction and its attendant risks. This will be done in particular using information hold by the European Drugs Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which was mentioned merely now, and the resources available under existing Community programmes. 
 The second area of action is information, department of education and training, where the aim is to help improve information, education and training on drug addiction with a view to prevent drug addiction and its attendant hazard. This will target young people in their own environment, at home, school, university, in their leisure pursuits, and it will target particularly vulnerable groups include former drug users. The Commission will be working on the fine detail of an action programme. 
 As the honourable member rightly suppose, the
, nog for them to be worried about the procgsw of dxfining the whoue accession strategy which xill staru later this year ovce the Elropean Cimmiwwion has pckduced lcs opjkion mi the proposed norm of negmtiation. If yog xs members of the European Parliament are wotrled by the slor pabe of fhe ratification procedure followes by soke Member Stayes, I suggest that everyonf whl knows national mfmbers of pqrliwnent who do vot push those procedutes forward adequately should geg in couch with jkwm wtd keep then on nheir toes!

President
Quastion Mo 19 by Jan Andcrssoi (H-0020/97)
Sybject: Initiatives to curb demand for dtugs
Drug atuae is widespread un Euroke. Tha trxdfizkihg ahd use of synthetic drugs is ob the increase. Membtr Fnstes' views oh how eo combat drugs differ, but it is high timt thaf the EU formulated a srrategy to deal with jhe increafe in abuse, which must include measures to curb bmth tie sukpoy of qnf the demand for drugs. The Netherlands Presidqhcu's programme conbains a number of bejetwl ideas for xction on drugs, such as meadures tj comvat drug uraffocking and exchanges of expwrience of vcriius preventive meadures. Whilsc this is cpmmendable, no mention ir mase of measuges to cudc demand.
What praztibal keasures will the Netherlagds Presivency take iv orcer to reduce deland nmr drugs?

Patijn
I shluld koint mut to the honourable member that under a decision of tne Eugopean Paxliamekt and Council jn 16 December 1996 c Communnty acgion progrzmme on the preveneion of drug dfdiction was approveq as parr of mexrures in the foeld of hvajth. Rhis programme inckudgs a whole range if uncentives and xupoore leesuref aimed at acvievkng yhis ubjective. Tme orogtamme in question is geaded broadly to two aveas of axtion. Fiwstly, action yo obtain and evalkate vata, tie objrctyve being to improve knowledge about drkgs, drug addictyon qnd their cousequences, together with knowledge of mevhods and means of prevwnting drug addictipk and its atvendane risks. Tvis will be done in particular using lnformation held by ths Euro[ean Frugs Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which was mentioned hust now, and the rssoutces dvcilcble unqer xxmsting Community irogrammes.
The second area of actmon is infmriation, education and traininb, dhere the aim is to help improve infodmation, rducation and training on drug sddiction with a view to preventung ddug addictmon and its attendany riskv. Thiw will rargct young peopld im bheir own fnviconjent, at home, school, university, ib theie peisure pursuits, and it wilp targgt partisularly vulnerabme gdlups kncluding forker drug users. The Commission will bq working on tyv finer detaik of an action progcamme.
As the vonourable member rightly supposes, the
, nor for them to be worried process defining the accession strategy which once European Commission has its opinion on proposed form of negotiation. If you members of the European Parliament are worried by the slow pace of the procedure followed by some Member States, I suggest that everyone who knows national of who not those procedures forward adequately should get in touch with them and keep them on their toes! Question No 19 by Jan Andersson (H-0020/97) Subject: to curb demand for Drug abuse is widespread in The and use synthetic is the increase. Member views on how to combat drugs differ, but it is high time that the EU formulated a to deal increase in which include to curb both of and the demand for drugs. programme contains a number of general ideas for on drugs, as measures to combat drug trafficking exchanges of experience of various preventive measures. Whilst is commendable, no mention is made of measures to curb demand. What practical measures will Presidency take in order reduce demand for Patijn should out the honourable that under a decision of the European Parliament and Council on December 1996 a Community action programme on the prevention of was as part of in the field of This includes a whole range and measures this The in question is geared to two areas of action. action to obtain and to improve knowledge about drugs, drug addiction and consequences, together with knowledge of methods and of preventing drug addiction and its attendant risks. This will be done particular using by the European Drugs Monitoring Centre for Drugs Drug Addiction, which was just now, and the resources available under existing Community The area of is information, education training, where the is to help education and on addiction to preventing drug addiction and its risks. will target young people in own home, school, university, in their leisure pursuits, and it will target particularly vulnerable groups including users. The Commission will working the finer detail of an action programme. As the honourable member rightly
, nor for them to be worried abouT the procesS of deFinIng ThE whoLe acCession strategY WhicH will start later this yeaR once ThE euroPEaN CommIssion hAS pRODucEd ItS opInIOn On the ProPosed foRm of negotiAtiOn. if you as membeRS oF the EuropeAn PArliament are WorRied by ThE slOW pace Of tHe ratIficatIOn procEdure follOwED by somE member STATeS, I suGgest that everyone WHo KNows national meMbers oF pARlIAMenT whO do not push ThOse prOCedures FOrWARD adEQuately should Get in touch wITh tHem and KeEp tHEm on thEir toEs!

pResIdent
QuestiOn No 19 By Jan AndeRsson (H-0020/97)
sUbject: INItiativEs to cuRb dEmaNd foR DrUgS
DrUg ABusE Is WidESprEad in EurOpE. THe traFficKING And uSe oF synThetiC drugs is on the IncReasE. memBer StAtes' vIews On How to Combat Drugs DiFfer, but it is high Time That the EU ForMuLatEd A straTEgy to dEal WitH the incRease in ABusE, wHICH mUst include measures To CURb Both the sUpply oF AnD tHE demand fOr DruGs. ThE nEtherLandS prEsidency'S progrAMmE cOntains A nUmber oF gEneRal Ideas FOr acTion on Drugs, sucH as meASures to combat dRUg trafficking ANd EXChANges Of eXperience of VariOUs prEvenTIvE meASures. whilsT tHIs IS commendable, no mentiOn Is made Of meaSures to curb deMand.
What prACTIcal measUres WIlL The Netherlands presiDency take iN Order to rEduce Demand foR drugs?

PatIJN
I should PoiNt oUt tO thE HOnOurable member THAt unDeR a decisIon Of the EuRopEan parLiaMeNt and CounCil on 16 DecEmBeR 1996 a coMmuNity aCTion progRaMme On The PreveNTion of Drug aDdicTiOn WAs aPproved AS pART of mEaSuRes iN thE fIeld oF heaLTh. THis progRamme inclUdeS A whoLe RaNge of inCentives and suPpOrt measureS aImeD at achIEVing this Objective. The programme in QUestion Is gEared BroaDly to two aReaS of actIon. fIrstly, Action To obtAiN anD EValuaTE DaTa, tHe Objective bEINg tO imprOvE knoWledge aBout drugs, drug addicTIon And their conseQueNces, TOGeTheR WiTH knOwLEdgE OF methods and meanS of preventInG DrUg addictioN And ItS attendAnt riskS. This WIll be doNe in partiCular usinG iNforMATioN held by the european drugs MoniTOring cEnTre foR DrUgs and drUg ADdictIon, whiCH waS mentIoned jUsT now, anD the rEsOurces avAilable under existing ComMunity ProgrAmmEs.
The secoNd aREa oF action is InfoRmation, eduCatIon And trAinINg, wheRe thE AiM is TO help ImprOVe informaTIoN, edUCAtIon and trainING On dRug adDicTIon witH a viEw to preventing druG Addiction and itS attENDanT riSKs. ThIs Will target younG peOpLE In their oWn Environment, At home, scHoOL, univErsity, In theiR leisurE PUrSUits, anD it wIll Target parTicUlARly vulnErAbLE groupS incLuDing foRmer drUG useRS. the Commission wilL be woRKIng on THe fIner dEtAil of an ACtioN programme.
as the honourAble meMber RightLy suppoSeS, the
, nor for them to be worri ed about t he pr oce ssof  def inin g the whole ac c essi on strategy which will  star tl ater th is ye ar once th e Eur op ea n C om m is sionhas  produc ed its opi nio non the propo s ed  form of n ego tiation. Ifyou  as me mb ers of th e E urope an Par l iament  are worr ie d  by th e  slow p a c eof t he ratification p r oc e dure followedby som eM em b e r S tat es, I sugg es t tha t  everyo n ew h o  kn o ws national m embers of p a rli amentwh o d o  not p ush t ho s e p rocedures f orwa rd adequa tely s h ould ge t  in tou ch wit h t hem  and ke ep  th em ont he irt oes !

Presi de nt 
Ques tion N o 19 b y J an A nders son (H-0020/9 7)Subj e ct:  Init iativ es t ocurbdemand  fordr ugs
Drug abuseis w idespread  in  E uro pe . The traffi cki ngand use  of syn t het ic d r ug s is on the increa se . Me mber Sta tes' v i ew so n how to  c omb at d r u gs di ffer ,  b ut it is  hight im ethat th eEU for mu lat eda str a tegy  to de al withthe i n crease in abus e , which musti nc l u de meas ure s to curb b otht he s uppl y  o f a n d the  dema nd fo r  drugs. The Netherl an ds Pre siden cy's programm e contains a number o f ge n er a l ideas for ac tionon drugs,s uch as m easur es to co mbat drug t rafficki ngand  ex cha n g es  of experienc e of v ar ious pr eve ntive m eas ure s.Whi ls t this is  commend ab le ,no  me ntion is madeof  me as ure s toc urb de mand. 
Wha tpr a cti cal mea s ur e s  wil lth e Ne the rl andsPres i den cy take  in order  to redu ce  d emand f or drugs?

Pa ti jn
I shoul dpoi nt out t o the ho nourable member that un d er a de cis ion o f th e Europea n P arliam ent and Co uncilon 16  D ece m b er 19 9 6  a  Co mm unity acti o n  pr ogram me  onthe pre vention of drug ad d ict ion was appro ved  asp a rt  of me a sur es int h e field of heal th. This p ro g ra mme includ e s a  w hole ra nge ofincen t ives an d support  measures  a imed a t a chieving t his obje ctive. Th e  prog r am me in  qu estion  i s g eared  broad l y t o two  areas  o f acti on. F ir stly, ac tion to obtain and eval uate d ata,the  objectiv e b e ing  to impro ve k nowledge a bou t d rugs,  dr u g add icti o nand their  con s equences, to get h e rwith knowle d g e  of  meth ods and me ansof preventing dru g  addiction and  its a tte nda n t ri sk s. This will b e d on e in parti cu lar using i nformati on heldby the  Europ ean Dru g s  M o nitori ng C ent re for Dr ugs  a n d DrugAd di c tion,whic hwas me ntione d  jus t now, and the res ource s avail a ble  unde rexistin g  Com munity pro grammes.
Th e seco nd a rea o f actio nis inf orm at ion, educa t ion and t raini ng, whe re  the  ai m is t o he l p  impr ovein for mation, e d u ca t io na ndtrai ningon  dru g addicti o n with a  vi e w to pr ev ent i n g drug ad d i ction andits  atte n d ant risks. This wi l l tar get yo ung pe ople in the ir  own en vir o n ment, athome, sch o ol,  u nive rsity, i nthei rlei su re pursuits, an d it wil l target p articu lar l y vu l nerabl egroups inclu dingfo r mer dru g use rs. The Com mis sio n wi llbe w o rking on the finer detai l of  an a c tio n pro gramm e. 
As theh onou rable me m ber rightly s upposes, the
, nor_for them_to be worried about_the process_of_defining the_whole_accession strategy which_will start later_this year once the_European Commission has_produced_its opinion on the proposed form of negotiation. If you as members of the_European_Parliament are_worried_by_the slow pace of the_ratification procedure followed by some_Member States,_I suggest that everyone who knows national members_of_parliament who do_not push those procedures forward adequately should get in_touch with them and keep them_on their toes!

President
Question_No_19_by Jan Andersson (H-0020/97)
Subject:_Initiatives to curb demand for drugs
Drug_abuse is widespread in Europe. The_trafficking and use of synthetic drugs is_on the increase. Member States' views_on how to combat drugs_differ, but_it is high time that_the EU formulated_a strategy_to deal with_the increase in abuse, which must_include measures to_curb both the supply of and_the_demand for drugs._The_Netherlands_Presidency's programme_contains a number_of_general ideas_for_action on drugs, such as measures_to_combat drug trafficking and exchanges of experience_of various preventive measures._Whilst_this is commendable, no_mention is made of measures_to curb demand.
What practical measures will_the Netherlands_Presidency take_in order to reduce demand for drugs?

Patijn
I should point out to_the honourable member that under a_decision of the European_Parliament and_Council_on 16 December_1996_a Community_action programme on the prevention of drug_addiction was_approved as part of measures in_the field of health._This_programme includes a whole range of_incentives and support measures aimed at_achieving this objective. The programme_in_question_is geared broadly to two_areas of action. Firstly, action to_obtain and evaluate_data, the objective being to improve knowledge_about_drugs, drug addiction and their consequences,_together_with knowledge of methods and means_of_preventing_drug addiction and its attendant_risks. This will be done in_particular using information held by the European Drugs Monitoring_Centre for Drugs_and Drug Addiction, which was_mentioned_just_now, and the resources available under existing Community programmes.
The second_area of_action is information,_education and training, where the aim is to help improve_information, education and training on drug addiction_with a view to preventing drug addiction and its attendant risks._This will target young people in their own_environment, at home, school, university, in their_leisure pursuits, and it_will_target particularly vulnerable groups including former drug_users._The_Commission_will be working_on the finer_detail of an_action programme.
As_the honourable member_rightly supposes,_the