Drug Trafficking (Hansard, 21 January 1987)

§ 117. Mr. Dickens
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

§ 118. Dr. Blackburn
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

§ 119. Mr. Leigh
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

§ 120. Mr. Richard Page
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

§ Mr. Hurd
On 20 October I chaired a meeting of Community Ministers in London at which it was agreed that the Community and its member states have a major role to play in stepping up the fight against drug abuse. 559W Agreement was reached upon a seven-point plan which would be pursued in conjunction with the Council of Europe's Pompidou Group, covering:

(i) Measures to reduce demand for drugs especially among young people;

(ii) Measures to improve the treatment of addicts and rehabilitation services;

(iii) ensuring that bilateral and Community aid supports as appropriate a recipient country's efforts to combat drug abuse;

(iv) steps to ensure that legislation takes account of the need to maintain effective control over illicit drug trafficking, particularly at the Community's external frontiers;

(v) mutual enforcement of confiscation orders relating to drug traffickers' assets;

(vi) enhanced co-operation between law enforcement agencies involving exchange of drug liaison officers between member states, the posting of drug liaison officers to other countries and the establishment of a worldwide directory of those involved in the fight against drug abuse; this would be achieved by inviting the Trevi Working Group Three to examine the scope for creating a co-ordinated network of drug liaison officers to monitor developments in producer countries;

(vii) preparation of joint assessments by Community ambassadors in drug-producing countries in order to ensure a steady flow of recommendations for action by the Twelve.

At the European Council, in December, Heads of State and Government endorsed this plan, action on which will be carried forward in ad hoc meetings of officials under the Belgian presidency. A copy of the Council's conclusions has been placed in the Library.