§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new initiatives were proposed by Her Majesty's Government for tackling(a) illegal drugs and (b) other criminal activity during the UK presidency of the European Union. [48546]
§ Mr. George HowarthFighting organised international crime, including tackling illicit drug trafficking, was a priority for this Government during the United Kingdom Presidency, with a focus on practical action.
(a) Tackling illicit drugs
One of our main objectives was to begin consideration of the post-1999 European Union drugs strategy. The Cardiff European Council endorsed a report on the key elements of a new five year strategy, which strikes the necessary balance between demand and supply reduction activity. The strategy will be further developed under succeeding Presidencies, to take effect from the year 2000. We continued to promote Customs joint surveillance exercises to improve operational co-operation and exchange of intelligence.
Three practical exercises took place during the United Kingdom Presidency, including an exercise involving all 15 member states and the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe successfully targeting drug trafficking along the Balkan route. This resulted in seizures with a United Kingdom total street value of around £10 million. The United Kingdom was active as Presidency in ensuring effective European Union co-ordination in preparations for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on drugs, which adopted a Political Declaration, guiding principles on demand reduction, and an action plan covering precursor chemicals, amphetamine-type stimulants, money laundering, judicial co-operation and