 and that the quality of information coming from them is as good as can possibly be?

Patijn
I can answer the first of the honourable member's pertinent questions with an unreserved yes. We believe that the Monitoring Centre merits our wholehearted support, given the scale and seriousness of the problem we face in Western Europe with drug addiction and trafficking. There is another reason too and that is to some extent a factor given the Dutch approach to the problem of drugs. We think that paying more attention to prevention and stopping people from coming into contact with the world of drugs and addiction is, together with crime control, one of the key ways in which we can get on top of this terrible problem more effectively. It is a problem we have been grappling with for years and shall be grappling with well into the future. I share the honourable member's underlying belief that if you have to get a complex problem under control you have to monitor it, you have to know, you have to measure and above all you have to have reliable and comparable data on the various forms in which this problem may manifest itself and how it manifests itself in the different Member States. I am thus totally in favour of the approach the honourable member advocates. I shall certainly bring it to the attention of the Dutch Health Minister who is, incidentally, an expert on the control of drugs.

President
Question No 18 by Niels Sindal (H-0018/97)
Subject: Ratification of Europe Agreements
Two years have passed since the Europe Agreements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were signed. However, a number of countries (Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, Portugal and the UK) have still not ratified them. What steps will the Council Presidency take to ensure that these countries ratify the agreements?

Patijn
In answer to Mr Sindal, the Europe agreements of association with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were signed on 12 June 1995, that is to say just over a year and a half ago. Since then the ratification procedure has been under way and at present the procedures have been completed in nine Member States. As the honourable member knows, each country follows its own procedures and practices. It is not my place to go into those further or comment on them. But one should not have the impression that the procedures to ratify the Europe agreements with the three Baltic states are not progressing satisfactorily. Ratification of the Europe agreements with other countries in
and that the quality of information coming from them is as beneficial as can possibly be? 

 Patijn 
 I can suffice the first of the honourable extremity's apposite questions with an unreserved yes. We believe that the Monitoring Centre merits our heart-whole accompaniment, given the plate and earnestness of the problem we face in Western Europe with drug addiction and trafficking. There be another reason too and that is to some extent a factor give the Dutch approach to the problem of drugs. We remember that paying more attention to prevention and stopping multitude from coming into contact with the world of drugs and addiction is, in concert with crime control, one of the cardinal ways in which we can get on top of this terrible trouble more effectively. It is a problem we have been grappling with for years and shall be grappling with well into the future. I share the honourable member's underlying belief that if you have to get a complex problem under control you have to monitor it, you have to know, you have to quantify and above all you suffer to have authentic and comparable datum on the versatile forms in which this problem may attest itself and how it manifests itself in the unlike Member States. I am thus totally in favour of the overture the honourable member advocates. I shall certainly bring it to the attention of the Dutch Health Minister who is, incidentally, an expert on the control of drugs. 

 President 
 Question No 18 by Niels Sindal (H-0018/97) 
 Subject: Ratification of Europe Agreements 
 Two years have exceed since the Europe Agreements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were signed. However, a act of countries (Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, Portugal and the UK) have still not ratified them. What steps will the Council Presidency take to guarantee that these countries ratify the agreements? 

 Patijn 
 In solution to Mr Sindal, the Europe agreements of affiliation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were signed on 12 June 1995, that is to say just over a year and a half ago. Since then the ratification routine has been under way and at present the procedures have been complete in nine Member States. As the honourable extremity knows, each state follows its own procedure and practices. It is not my place to go into those further or comment on them. But one should not have the mental picture that the procedures to sign the Europe agreements with the three Baltic states are not progressing satisfactorily. Ratification of the Europe agreements with early countries in
 anf that the quality of innormation coming from tiem is zs good xs can possibly be?

Patijn
I cai anwwer uke first of the honojrable melber's peetintnt questions witi an unrcfervsf yev. We believe thst the Monhtoring Centre mdrnts our wholehearted support, given tre scalr wnd seriousnesf of ehe lgonlem we face in Western Europe wjth druj addiction and trafficking. There is anotjer geason too and thah is to somg exewnt a factor given the Dutch approzch to the problem of drugs. We ghink that payibg mogg attention vo prenention and sbppping people from coming ikto cmntqct with the world of drugs and addictijn is, togatker with crime controo, ine ox tha keh wahs jn wgich wf cen get on tkp of this rerrible problem mote vgfectively. If is a pwoblem we have been grappling with for jeara and shall be grapplint with well into the vuture. I fhare the honourable member's underlying belief thdt if hou hwxw ho get a complex problem under control you hads uo konitor it, you have to knpw, ypo have to measore and abkve all you have tl have teliaboe and coiparsble data on the various foems in which rhis problem may mcnifest itseuf amd hoe it manifests itself iu the sifferent Mfmber Stafds. I am thus totxllj in favour of the approach thq honouraule mzmber adxocajes. I srall certalnly nsing it to the attfntiou of dhe Dutch Jealth Minister who is, incidentekly, an experj ot tve contrjl of drugs.

Presidegt
Question No 18 by Niejs Sivdal (H-0018/97)
Subjvct: Ratifmcation of Etrope Agreemetjs
Two years heve passeq sibce rhe Euruoe Agreements eith Estouna, Latvia and Lithuania werc sigvsd. However, a nunbet of countries (Neleiui, Hrxece, Ssance, Italy, [ortjgau and ghe UK) have rtilk not ratified them. Fhat steps will the Coingil Presieency tahe to ensure yhat these countrits ratmfy thx agrermegts?

Patijn
In answer to Mr Sindam, the Eurlpe agreements jf awsociation wnth Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were sijned on 12 June 1995, that is ro say just over a ieav and a half ago. Fince thet the ratification peocedure has been under way and at preaent tve prlcedures have been completed in nine Member States. As the honourable membwr knoxs, each countdy fpllowv nts own pwocevuces and practices. It is not my place to go into vhose furtvex or comment on them. But one xhuuld not have the impression that the procedutes to ratify the Europe agreemrnts with the three Baltlc states are hot progrersing satisfactoriky. Ratnficatuon of rhe Curope agreemevts wlth other founuriea in
and that the quality of information coming is good as possibly be? Patijn of honourable member's pertinent with an unreserved We believe that the Monitoring Centre our wholehearted support, given the scale and seriousness of the problem we face Western Europe with drug addiction and trafficking. There is another reason too and is some a given the Dutch approach to the problem of drugs. We think that paying more attention to and stopping people from coming into contact with world of drugs and is, together with crime control, of key ways which can on top of terrible problem more effectively. It is a problem we have been grappling with for years and shall grappling with the future. share honourable underlying belief that have to get a complex problem have to monitor it, you have to know, have to and above all you have to reliable and comparable data on the various forms which this problem may manifest itself and how it manifests itself in the different Member am thus totally in of the approach honourable advocates. shall bring it the attention of the Dutch Health Minister who is, incidentally, an on the control of drugs. President Question No 18 by (H-0018/97) Ratification of Europe Two years have passed the Agreements with Estonia, Latvia were However, countries Greece, Italy, Portugal and the have still not ratified them. steps will the Council these countries ratify the agreements? Patijn In answer Mr Sindal, the Europe agreements of association Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were signed on 12 June 1995, that is say just year and a half ago. Since then the procedure has been under and at present the procedures have been completed in Member As the member knows, each follows its own and practices. It my place go those on them. But one should not the that the procedures to ratify Europe the three Baltic states are not progressing satisfactorily. Ratification of the Europe agreements with other
 and that the quality of informAtion cominG from TheM is As Good As caN possibly be?

PatIJn
I cAn answer the first of the hOnourAbLE memBEr'S pertInent quEStIONs wItH aN unReSErVed yeS. We Believe That the MonItoRiNg Centre meriTS oUr wholeheaRteD support, giveN thE scale AnD seRIousnEss Of the ProbleM We face In Western euROpe witH Drug addICTiOn anD trafficking. There IS aNOther reason too And thaT iS To SOMe eXteNt a factor gIvEn the dUtch appROaCH TO thE Problem of drugS. We think thaT PayIng morE aTteNTion to PreveNtIOn aNd stopping pEoplE from comiNg into COntact wITh the woRld of dRugS anD addICtIoN is, ToGEthER wIth CRimE control, OnE oF the kEy waYS IN WhicH we Can gEt on tOp of this terriBle ProbLEm mOre efFectiVely. it Is a prOblem wE have BeEn grappling with For yEars and shAll Be GraPpLing wITh well IntO thE future. i share tHE hoNoURABlE member's underlying BeLIEf That if yoU have tO GeT a COmplex prObLem UndeR COntroL you HAvE to monitOr it, yoU HaVe To know, yOu Have to MeAsuRe aNd aboVE all You havE to have rEliabLE and comparable DAta on the varioUS fORMs IN whiCh tHis problem mAy maNIfesT itsELf And HOw it mAnifeStS ItSElf in the different MeMbEr StatEs. I am Thus totally in Favour of thE APProach thE honOUrABle member advocAtes. I Shall certaINly bring It to tHe attentIon of the DUTCh Health minIstEr wHo iS, INcIdentally, an exPERt on ThE controL of Drugs.

PrEsiDenT
QuEstIoN No 18 by NielS Sindal (H-0018/97)
suBjEcT: RAtiFicatIOn of EuroPe agrEeMenTs
Two YEars haVe pasSed sInCe THe EUrope AgREeMENts wItH EStonIa, LAtVia anD LitHUanIa were sIgned. HoweVer, A NumbEr Of CountriEs (Belgium, GreeCe, france, ItalY, POrtUgal anD THe UK) have Still not ratified them. WhaT Steps wiLl tHe CouNcil presidencY taKe to enSurE That thEse couNtrieS rAtiFY The agREEmEntS?

PAtijn
In ansWER to mr SinDaL, the europe aGreements of associaTIon With Estonia, LaTviA and lIThUanIA wERe sIgNEd oN 12 jUne 1995, that is to say jUst over a yeAr ANd A half ago. SiNCe tHeN the ratIficatiOn proCEdure haS been undeR way and at PrEsenT THe pRocedures hAve been cOmpleted iN Nine MEMbEr StaTes. as the hOnOurAble mEmber kNOws, Each cOuntry FoLlows iTs own PrOcedures And practices. It is not my plAce to gO into ThoSe further Or cOMmeNt on them. BUt onE should not HavE thE imprEssIOn thaT the PRoCedURes to RatiFY the EuropE AgReeMENtS with the thrEE bAltIc staTes ARe not pRogrEssing satisfactorILy. Ratification Of thE eUroPe aGReemEnTs with other couNtrIeS IN
 and that the quality of i nformation  comi ngfro mthem  isas good as can poss ibly be?

Patijn
I can  answ er thef ir st of  the ho n ou r a ble  m em ber 's pe rtine ntquestio ns with an  un re served yes.W ebelieve th atthe Monitori ngCentre  m eri t s our  wh olehe arteds upport , given t he scalea nd seri o u sn essof the problem we fa c e in Western E uropewi t hd r ugadd iction and  t raffi c king. T h er e i s a n other reasontoo and tha t  is  to so me  ex t ent afacto rg ive n the Dutch  app roach tothe pr o blem of drugs.We thi nktha t pa y in gmor ea tte n ti ont o p reventio nan d sto ppin g p e ople  fr om c oming  into contact  wi th t h e w orldof dr ugsan d add iction  is,to gether with cri me c ontrol, o neof  th ekey w a ys inwhi chwe canget ont opof t h is  terrible problemmo r e  e ffective ly. It is  a problemwe  ha ve b e e n gra ppli n gwith for  years an dshall b egrappl in g w ith  well into  the f uture. I  shar e  the honourabl e  member's und e rl y i ng beli efthat if you  hav e  togeta  c omp l ex pr oblem  u n de r  control you have t omonito r it,  you have toknow, youh a v e to mea sure an d  above all you  have  to have r e liable a nd co mparable  data ont h e variou s f orm s i n w h i ch  this problem m ay m an ifest i tse lf andhow  it  ma nif es ts itself  in thedi ff er en t M ember States.Iamth ustotal l y in f avour  ofth ea ppr oach th e  h o n oura bl ememb erad vocat es.I  sh all cer tainly br ing it t oth e atten tion of the D ut ch HealthMi nis ter wh o is, inci dentally, an expert ont he cont rol  of d rugs .

Presid ent 
Quest ion No 18by Nie ls Si nd al( H -0018 / 9 7) 
Su bj ect: Ratif i c ati on of  E urop e Agree ments
Two years ha v e p assed since t heEuro p e  A gre e me n tswi t h E s t onia, Latvia an d Lithuani aw er e signed.H owe ve r, a nu mber of  coun t ries (B elgium, G reece, Fr an ce,I t aly , Portugal  and the  UK) have still no t rat ifi ed the m.  Wh at st eps wi l l t he Co uncilPr esiden cy ta ke  to ensu re that these countries  ratif y the  ag reements? 

P a tij n
In answ er t o Mr Sinda l,the  Euro pea greem ents of  as s ociat ionw ith Eston i a,  La t v ia  and Lithua n i a  we re si gne d  on 12  Jun e 1995, that is t o  say just over  a y e a r a nda  hal fago. Since the n t he r atificat io n procedure  has bee nu nderway an d at p resentt h ep rocedu reshav e been co mpl et e d in ni ne  M e mber S tate s.  As th e hono u rabl e member knows, ea ch co u n try f o llo ws it sown pro c edur es and pra ctices. Itis not  myplace  to goin to tho sefu rther or c o mment onthem.  But on eshou ldnot ha ve t h e  impr essi on  th at the pr o c ed u re st o r atif y the  E urop e agreeme n ts withthe three B al tic s tatesa re n ot progres sin g sat i s factorily. Rati f ic a tionof the  Europ e agree m ent swith ot her c ountriesin
 and_that the_quality of information coming_from them_is_as good_as_can possibly be?

Patijn
I_can answer the_first of the honourable_member's pertinent questions_with_an unreserved yes. We believe that the Monitoring Centre merits our wholehearted support, given_the_scale and_seriousness_of_the problem we face in_Western Europe with drug addiction_and trafficking._There is another reason too and that is_to_some extent a_factor given the Dutch approach to the problem of_drugs. We think that paying more_attention to prevention_and_stopping_people from coming into_contact with the world of drugs_and addiction is, together with crime_control, one of the key ways in_which we can get on top_of this terrible problem more_effectively. It_is a problem we have_been grappling with_for years_and shall be_grappling with well into the future._I share the_honourable member's underlying belief that if_you_have to get_a_complex_problem under_control you have_to_monitor it,_you_have to know, you have to_measure_and above all you have to have_reliable and comparable data_on_the various forms in_which this problem may manifest_itself and how it manifests itself_in the_different Member_States. I am thus totally in favour of the approach the_honourable member advocates. I shall certainly_bring it to the_attention of_the_Dutch Health Minister_who_is, incidentally,_an expert on the control of drugs.

President
Question_No 18_by Niels Sindal (H-0018/97)
Subject: Ratification of_Europe Agreements
Two years have_passed_since the Europe Agreements with Estonia,_Latvia and Lithuania were signed. However,_a number of countries (Belgium,_Greece,_France,_Italy, Portugal and the UK)_have still not ratified them. What_steps will the_Council Presidency take to ensure that these_countries_ratify the agreements?

Patijn
In answer to Mr_Sindal,_the Europe agreements of association with_Estonia,_Latvia_and Lithuania were signed on_12 June 1995, that is to_say just over a year and a half ago._Since then the_ratification procedure has been under_way_and_at present the procedures have been completed in nine Member_States. As_the honourable member_knows, each country follows its own procedures and practices. It_is not my place to go into_those further or comment on them. But one should not have_the impression that the procedures to ratify the_Europe agreements with the three Baltic states_are not progressing satisfactorily._Ratification_of the Europe agreements with other countries_in