Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-02-13-Speech-4-030"
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"en.20030213.2.4-030"2
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"Madam President, I very much appreciate Mrs Malliori's report and in particular the many wise remarks in her explanatory statement, which demonstrate a profound knowledge in this field and a positive attitude.
Let me first make it clear that prevention will always be our priority. The scope of the recommendation is, however, focused on risk reduction. This is not an alternative, but an important other element in the fight against drugs.
Most of the suggested amendments strengthen the recommendation. I am pleased to say that the Commission agrees with 41 out of the 66 proposed amendments. A number of those amendments overlap and redrafting may be necessary for other reasons. Those involving financial commitments should be dealt with according to normal procedures.
I particularly welcome Amendments 12 and 24 suggesting the addition of risk reduction methods related to the use of new synthetic drugs such as ecstasy. Strictly speaking, this might be regarded as on the periphery of the scope of this recommendation, as most users of these drugs are not actually addicted. But the use of these drugs is on the increase. Some users show a compulsive use pattern and they are frequently part of a network where drug use is very common.
As I have said, many of the suggested amendments can be supported, but time does not allow me to mention all of them. There are 25 amendments that I cannot support, not necessarily because I disagree with the thrust of their content, but because they clearly fall outside the scope of this recommendation. I have arranged for a list to be handed over to Parliament's secretariat for inclusion in the Minutes of this debate for greater clarity and precision.
May I remind you that this is a draft Council recommendation on the prevention and reduction of risks associated with drug dependence. It does not deal with prevention of drug use in general – that is dealt with elsewhere. This recommendation should be seen as part of an overall comprehensive policy. I would refer the House to other legislation and in particular to the European Drug Strategy 2000-2004 to which I referred in my earlier speech.
I understand the concerns of those who do not support risk reduction methods and those who talk about the risk of false messages. However, I do not believe that we are encouraging drug use by advocating exchange programmes for needles and syringes. Others are of the same view as myself. For instance, the Surgeon General of the United States has come to the conclusion that well-designed and implemented exchange programmes, as part of a comprehensive strategy, are effective public health measures that reduce the transmission of HIV while not encouraging the use of illegal drugs. However, let me emphasise that the programme has to be both well-designed and part of a comprehensive strategy.
I shall finish by stressing that it is our ultimate goal to prevent the use of illegal drugs. But as Mrs Malliori points out in her report, we do not live in an ideal world with zero drug use - and as long as there are drug users in society, effective harm reduction measures must be applied.
The aim of risk reduction is to reduce the problematic consequences of drug consumption, particularly AIDS and other infectious diseases, by a wide use of measures, all targeted towards a common objective."@en1
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