 Dutch presidency will also concentrate on the sharing of experience gained in the prevention of drug use. We shall also look at which elements of the collective strategy against drugs, adopted by the Council in December 1996, merit implementation in the area of preventing drug addiction. For the benefit of honourable members, not only Mr Andersson but others too who like myself are very much exercised by this subject, I should say that the Dutch presidency will be giving very high priority to the whole question of studying and eliminating the drugs problem, together with its control and its treatment by the judicial system.

Andersson
I would like to thank the Council for their answer. The reason for my question is that there are generally speaking two ways of fighting drug abuse, by tackling both supply and demand. We must use both these methods. We all agree with this as far as supply, i.e. trade in and manufacture of synthetic drugs, is concerned. But at the same time we know that, no matter how many producers and wholesalers we bring to book, there will always be drug abuse as long as there is a demand. This is why I think that demand is the most important issue, and most important of all is to ensure that young people do not begin using drugs at all.
I have two questions one concerned with this issue and another concerning the response given to Mr StewartClark. Firstly: do you also think that the most important initiative in tackling drugs is to prevent young people from even trying them? Secondly: amphetamines and other synthetic drugs are now being produced in Eastern Europe. Should not we in the EU be 'cleaning up our own backyard' now that we are in contact with Eastern European countries?

Patijn
I agree with Mr Andersson's analysis, which draws a clear distinction between supply and demand. I think there is a large measure of consensus and policy agreement within the European Union about how to control supply. The main objective is to suppress drugs, to counter international organized crime and in this respect Mr Andersson rightly calls for relations with third countries to be borne in mind. We know that the rapid processes of social change in some Eastern European countries have led to special risks in the transportation and manufacture of hard drugs and I can assure you that account is taken of this fact in the Council's work. I said just now that the Dublin summit resolved to set up a group of senior representatives who will shortly come up with suggestions to counter organized crime; they will of course be examining large- and medium-scale drug
Dutch presidency will also concentrate on the sharing of experience gained in the prevention of drug habit. We shall besides look at which elements of the corporate strategy against drug, adopted by the Council in December 1996, merit execution in the area of preventing drug addiction. For the benefit of honourable member, not only Mr Andersson but others too who like myself are very a lot exercised by this subject, I should say that the Dutch presidency will be giving very eminent priority to the whole question of studying and eliminating the drug problem, together with its control and its discussion by the judicial system. 

 Andersson 
 I would like to thank the Council for their answer. The reason for my doubt is that there are generally speaking two ways of fighting drug maltreatment, by tackling both supply and demand. We must use both these methods. We all agree with this as far as supply, i.e. trade in and manufacture of synthetic drugs, is concerned. But at the same time we know that, no matter how many producers and jobber we institute to book, there will constantly be drug maltreatment as long as there is a demand. This is why I remember that demand is the most important issue, and about important of all is to ensure that young people do not begin using drugs at all. 
 I have two questions one concerned with this issue and another refer the response establish to Mr StewartClark. Firstly: do you also think that the most important enterprise in tackling drugs is to prevent young citizenry from even trying them? Secondly: amphetamines and other celluloid drugs are immediately being produced in Eastern Europe. Should not we in the EU be' cleaning up our own backyard' nowadays that we are in contact with easterly European countries? 

 Patijn 
 I match with Mr Andersson's analysis, which describe a clear distinction between supply and demand. I think there be a large measure of consensus and policy agreement within the European Union about how to control supply. The main objective is to suppress drugs, to anticipate international organized crime and in this deference Mr Andersson rightly calls for relations with third countries to be borne in mind. We know that the rapid processes of social variety in some Eastern European countries have led to special risks in the transportation and manufacture of hard drug and I can assure you that account is taken of this fact in the Council's work. I said just now that the Dublin summit decide to set up a group of senior representatives who will soon derive up with suggestions to counter organized crime; they will of course be analyze large- and medium - scale drug
 Duhch presidency will also concentrate on the shering or experidnce gained in the preventioi of drug use. We shall also looy at whicj elemenrs oh the collective strategn agajkst dxujs, adopted by tme Council hn December 1996, markt implementation in the area of prevqnting crkg addiction. Fjr tnq behvflt of honourable members, not onlg Mr Anversson but othrrs too who like myself arf vegy much exercised hy this subhect, U should say that the Dutch presidgncy will be giving very high prkoritv to the whilw qkgstion of stndying and eliminabpng the drugs lroblem, togethcr wivh irs control and its trxatment by the judicyal systek.

Audersson
I would like ro thann tha Cojbciu fkr tgeir ajswxr. The reaskn for my qyestion is that thete qre generally speakynd two ways of fighting drug abuse, by tabklihg both supply and demabd. We must use both tjese methjds. We all agree with this as far as supply, i.e. trdde ii xnd mwvyfwcture of synthetic drugs, is concerned. But at fht ssme time we knjw that, no kahtrt how many proaucers ans wholesalers we bging to book, there wijl akways be drug abuse as long as there is q demand. This is wky I think tkat dekand os the most important irsue, and most ilportant kw all is to ensufe nhat young ptuple do not begin using drngs ac all.
I hxve jwo queftions one conccsned with this isske anb anodher concegning the response given to Mr StewartClark. Forvtlj: do you clso tmink that the mjst important nnitiatire in gackling dgugs is tm prevent yjung people fslm even tryiig them? Sqconely: qmphetaoknes and other synthetib brugs are now being producev in Sastern Europe. Whoood not we in tne DU fe 'ckewting up our mwn cacyuard' vow thau wc afe im contact with Eastesn Ehropean countries?

Pstljn
I agreg with Mr Andersson's amalysis, which drawd a cneac distoncjion between supply and demand. J think tjerc is a large ieasmre jf consensbs and policy agreement within the Europxan Union about how to xontrol supply. The ksin objectite is eo supprevs drugs, to counter unternational orgsnized crime and in tgis revpect Mr Andersson rightly calls for relations with third countries to be bornw in mmnq. We know tgat yhe rdpnd 'rocessqs oh rocial change in some Eastern European countrier have lad to special risks in the tramsoortation and manufacture of hard drufs and I can assure you that account is taken of this fact in tme Councio's wodk. I said oust now that the Dunlin sbmmit eesolvee to set up a grojp pf senior rfprexeutatives who will shortly come up with wuhgestions to couiter organizcd crimg; they wyll of course be exajlning large- and mecium-scale drug
Dutch presidency will also concentrate on the experience in the of drug use. which of the collective against drugs, adopted the Council in December 1996, merit in the area of preventing drug addiction. For the benefit of honourable members, only Mr Andersson but others too who like myself are very much exercised this I say the Dutch presidency will be giving very high priority to the whole question of studying and the drugs problem, together with its control and treatment by the judicial Andersson I would like to the for their The for question is that are generally speaking two ways of fighting drug abuse, by tackling both supply and demand. We must both these all agree this far supply, i.e. trade manufacture of synthetic drugs, is concerned. same time we know that, no matter how producers and we bring to book, there will be drug abuse as long as there is demand. This is why I think that demand is the most important issue, and most all is to ensure young people do begin drugs all. have two one concerned with this issue and another concerning the response given Mr StewartClark. Firstly: do you also think that the most in drugs is to young people from even them? amphetamines and other synthetic now produced Should we the EU be 'cleaning our own backyard' now that are in contact with agree with Mr Andersson's analysis, which draws a distinction between supply and demand. I think is a large measure of consensus and policy agreement within the European about how supply. The main objective is to suppress drugs, counter international organized crime in this respect Mr Andersson rightly calls for relations third to be in mind. We that the rapid of social change Eastern European have to the transportation and manufacture of hard and can assure you that account taken fact in the Council's work. I said just now that the Dublin summit resolved to a group of senior who shortly come up with suggestions to counter organized crime; they will of examining large- and
 Dutch presidency will also coNcentrate oN the sHarIng Of ExpeRienCe gained in the pREvenTion of drug use. We shall alSo looK aT WhicH ElEmentS of the cOLlECTivE sTrAteGy AGaInst dRugS, adopteD by the CounCil In december 1996, meriT ImPlementatiOn iN the area of prEveNting dRuG adDIctioN. FoR the bEnefit OF honouRable membErS, Not onlY mr AnderSSOn But oThers too who like mySElF Are very much exeRcised By THiS SUbjEct, i should say ThAt the dUtch preSIdENCY wiLL be giving very High prioritY To tHe wholE qUesTIon of sTudyiNg ANd eLiminating tHe drUgs probleM, togetHEr with iTS controL and itS trEatMent BY tHe JudIcIAl sYStEm.

ANDerSson
I wouLd LiKe to tHank THE cOuncIl fOr thEir anSwer. The reason For My quEStiOn is tHat thEre aRe GenerAlly spEakinG tWo ways of fightinG druG abuse, by tAckLiNg bOtH suppLY and deManD. We Must use Both theSE meThODS. we All agree with this as FaR AS sUpply, i.e. tRade in ANd MaNUfacture Of SynThetIC Drugs, Is coNCeRned. But aT the saME tImE we know ThAt, no maTtEr hOw mAny prODuceRs and wHolesaleRs we bRIng to book, there WIll always be drUG aBUSe AS lonG as There is a demAnd. THIs is Why I THiNk tHAt demAnd is ThE MoST important issue, and mOsT imporTant oF all is to ensurE that young PEOPle do not BegiN UsINg drugs at all.
I hAve twO questions ONe concerNed wiTh this isSue and anoTHEr concerNinG thE reSpoNSE gIven to Mr StewaRTclarK. FIrstly: dO yoU also thInk ThaT thE moSt Important InitiatiVe In TaCkLinG drugS Is to prevEnT yoUnG peOple fROm even TryinG theM? SEcONdlY: amphetAMiNES and OtHeR synTheTiC drugS are NOw bEing proDuced in EaSteRN EurOpE. SHould noT we in the EU be 'cLeAning up our OwN baCkyard' NOW that we aRe in contact with Eastern EURopean cOunTries?

patiJn
I agree wIth mr AndeRssON's analYsis, whIch drAwS a cLEAr disTINcTioN bEtween suppLY And DemanD. I ThinK there iS a large measure of coNSenSus and policy aGreEmenT WItHin THe eUroPeAN UnION about how to contRol supply. THe MAiN objective IS to SuPpress dRugs, to cOunteR InternaTional orgAnized criMe And iN THis Respect Mr ANdersson Rightly caLLs for RElAtionS wiTh thirD cOunTries To be boRNe iN mind. we know ThAt the rApid pRoCesses of Social change in some EasteRn EuroPean cOunTries have Led TO spEcial riskS in tHe transporTatIon And maNufACture Of haRD dRugS And I cAn asSUre you thaT AcCouNT Is Taken of this FACT in The CoUncIL's work. i saiD just now that the DuBLin summit resolVed tO SEt uP a gROup oF sEnior representAtiVeS WHo will shOrTly come up wiTh suggesTiONs to cOunter OrganiZed crimE; THeY Will of CourSe bE examininG laRgE- And mediUm-ScALe drug
 Dutch presidency will als o concentr ate o n t hesh arin g of  experience ga i nedin the prevention of d rug u se .  Wes ha ll al so look at w hic hel eme nt s  o f the  co llectiv e strategy  ag ai nst drugs, a d op ted by the  Co uncil in Dec emb er 199 6,  me r it im ple menta tion i n  the a rea of pr ev e ntingd rug add i c ti on.For the benefit o f  h o nourable membe rs, no to nl y MrAnd ersson but  o thers too who li k e mys e lf are very m uch exercis e d b y this  s ubj e ct, Ishoul ds aythat the Du tchpresidenc y will be givi n g veryhigh p rio rit y to th ewho le que s ti ono f s tudyingan delimi nati n g t he d rug s pr oblem , together wi thitsc ont rol a nd it s tr ea tment  by th e jud ic ial system.

An ders son
I wou ldli keto  than k  the C oun cil  for th eir ans w er.  T h e re ason for my questi on i sthat the re are ge ne r ally spe ak ing  two w ays o f fi g ht ing drug  abuse ,  b ytacklin gboth s up ply  an d dem a nd.We mus t use bo th th e se methods. We all agree wit h  t h i sa s fa r a s supply, i .e.t rade  ina nd  ma n ufact ure o fs yn t hetic drugs, is con ce rned.But a t the same ti me we know t h at, no m atte r  h o w many produce rs an d wholesal e rs we br ing t o book,there wil l always b e d rug  ab use a slong as there i s ade mand. T his  is why  Ithi nktha tdemand is  the mos tim po rt ant  issu e , and mo st  im po rta nt of all is  to e nsur eth a t y oung pe o pl e do n ot  b egin  us in g dru gs a t  al l.
I ha ve two qu est i onson econcern ed with thisis sue and an ot her  conce r n ing theresponse given to Mr St e wartCla rk.  Firs tly:  do you a lso  think  th a t themost i mport an t i n i tiati v e  i n t ac kling drug s isto pr ev entyoung p eople from even tr y ing  them? Second ly:  amp h e ta min e sa ndot h ers y nthetic drugs a re now bei ng pr oduced inE ast er n Europ e. Shou ld no t  we inthe EU be  'cleanin gup o u r  ow n backyard ' now th at we are in co n ta ct wi thEaster nEur opean  count r ies ?

Pa tijn
I  a gree w ith M rAndersso n's analysis, which dra ws a c leardis tinctionbet w een  supply a nd d emand. I t hin k t hereisa  larg e me a su reo f con sens u s and pol i cy  ag r e em ent withint h e  Eu ropea n U n ion ab outhow to control su p ply. The mainobje c t ive  is to s up press drugs, t o c ou n t er inter na tional orga nized cr im e  andin thi s resp ect MrA n de r sson r ight lycalls for  re la t ions wi th  t h ird co untr ie s to b e born e  inm i nd. We know that  ther a pid p r oce ssesof  social chan ge in some  Eastern Eu ropean  cou ntrie s havele d to s pec ia l risks in the trans porta tion an dmanu fac ture o f ha r d  drug s an dI c an assure y ou th at acc ount  is t ak en o f this fa c t in the  Co u ncil'swo rk. I  saidj us t now that t heDubli n summit res o lved to set u p a gr oup of  senior rep re sentati ves w ho will s hortly co m e u pwith  suggest io ns t ocou nt er organized cr ime; the y will o f course  be exam i ning l ar ge- and medi um-sc al e  drug
 Dutch_presidency will_also concentrate on the_sharing of_experience_gained in_the_prevention of drug_use. We shall_also look at which_elements of the_collective_strategy against drugs, adopted by the Council in December 1996, merit implementation in the_area_of preventing_drug_addiction._For the benefit of honourable_members, not only Mr Andersson_but others_too who like myself are very much exercised_by_this subject, I_should say that the Dutch presidency will be giving_very high priority to the whole_question of studying_and_eliminating_the drugs problem, together_with its control and its treatment_by the judicial system.

Andersson
I would like_to thank the Council for their answer._The reason for my question is_that there are generally speaking_two ways_of fighting drug abuse, by_tackling both supply_and demand._We must use_both these methods. We all agree_with this as_far as supply, i.e. trade in_and_manufacture of synthetic_drugs,_is_concerned. But_at the same_time_we know_that,_no matter how many producers and_wholesalers_we bring to book, there will always_be drug abuse as_long_as there is a_demand. This is why I_think that demand is the most_important issue,_and most_important of all is to ensure that young people do not_begin using drugs at all.
I have_two questions one concerned_with this_issue_and another concerning_the_response given_to Mr StewartClark. Firstly: do you also_think that_the most important initiative in tackling_drugs is to prevent_young_people from even trying them? Secondly:_amphetamines and other synthetic drugs are_now being produced in Eastern_Europe._Should_not we in the EU_be 'cleaning up our own backyard'_now that we_are in contact with Eastern European countries?

Patijn
I_agree_with Mr Andersson's analysis, which draws_a_clear distinction between supply and demand._I_think_there is a large measure_of consensus and policy agreement within_the European Union about how to control supply. The_main objective is_to suppress drugs, to counter_international_organized_crime and in this respect Mr Andersson rightly calls for_relations with_third countries to_be borne in mind. We know that the rapid processes_of social change in some Eastern European_countries have led to special risks in the transportation and manufacture_of hard drugs and I can assure you_that account is taken of this fact_in the Council's work._I_said just now that the Dublin summit_resolved_to_set_up a group_of senior representatives_who will shortly_come up_with suggestions to_counter organized_crime; they will_of_course be examining large- and medium-scale drug