Strategy for International Cooperation

Strategy for International Cooperation

/ EMCDDA, Management Board
Lisbon, 5-7 December2007 / 36th meeting
Agenda
Item VII.4.
Document: EMCDDA/30/07
Strategy for international cooperation
Summary
At its meeting of 4-6 July 2007, the Management Board took note of a first draft of the EMCDDA’s strategy international cooperation. The document has been revised in the light of the comments made by the Management Board.

Decision

The Management Board endorsed the revised strategy on international cooperation.

Strategy for international cooperation

  1. Context

The drugs phenomenon is global and interconnected, and the problems associated with drug use are complex and closely interwoven – which is why a response from a range of actors at international, government and local level is required. To be effective, it is essential to have a common understanding of the problem and to strive towards a coordinated response. As the European drugs agency, the EMCDDA has a significant contribution to make in the international arena.

The basis for the EMCDDA’s international activities is set out in its founding regulation. The recast of the regulation specifies the EMCDDA’s work to share best practice and amplify the impact of the resources put into tackling the drug problems. The support and transfer of know-how to be provided by the EMCDDA to candidate and potential candidate countries of the EU in the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the drugs field is also underlined. The relevance of international and multinational approaches to the drugs problem and the remit of the EMCDDA in this area is also described in the EU drugs strategy (2005–2012) and the EU drugs action plan (2005–2008). And the Centre’s three-year strategy and work programme (2007–2009) establishes a commitment to partnership as one of its underlying principles, and highlights the importance of avoiding duplication of effort and obtaining best value from the investments made.

Since the EMCDDA was established over a decade ago, its reputation and credibility have grown. It is increasingly known as the most comprehensive provider in Europe of factual, objective and reliable information. And more and more, international organisations, the global scientific community, peer organisations and think tanks in the drugs field, and third countries seek it out for advice.

Given that the EMCDDA’s international cooperation activities are expanding and evolving rapidly, it is appropriate to summarise aims and priorities in this area and explain the options that exist for cooperation with the EMCDDA.

  1. Objectives

The EMCDDA’s strategy for international cooperation has two specific objectives:

Objective 1: Centre of excellence for providing information on the European drugs situation

The Centre is the pre-eminent provider of drugs information at European level, and represents the key source of drugs data on Europe for international drug reports. Based on its routine data collection, registering and analysis activities, together with the active input of its Reitox network, the EMCDDA delivers a comprehensive picture of the evolving drugs situation within the EU and EMCDDA partner countries and, where applicable, candidate countries. It furthermore takes account of the work carried out by other European partner organisations, notably Europol, to enhance its coverage of the drug situation, particularly in the law enforcement field.

The EMCDDA also plays an exemplary role as a paradigm for improving monitoring of, and reporting on, the drugs situation. It is a highly competent international monitoring centre that has, since its inception, developed and enriched its standard reporting tools and key indicators. As such, the Centre champions scientific rigour, continuous improvement and comparability in monitoring the drugs situation. The Centre’s methodological innovations serve as a model for enhancing quantitative and qualitative drugs data at the international level. It cooperates with the relevant international organisations in order to consolidate the knowledge base, the tools and methodologies. The Centre is also involved in capacity building. It helps candidate and potential candidate countries to establish national drug monitoring systems that are compatible with the European model and, at the request of the European Commission, provides assistance to third countries.

Objective 2: Key European reference for developing a better understanding of the evolution of the drugs phenomenon worldwide

In its core areas of expertise, the Centre proactively targets cooperation with relevant peer organisations and actors on a global level. The Centre has a strong history of fruitful relationships with international organisations such as Europol, Interpol, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe, the UNODC, the WCO, the WHO and CICAD. The Centre also acts as an expert participant on drugs issues within the wider EU institutional context: in partnership with the Commission, Parliament and Council. The EMCDDA is a key contributor to the evaluation of the UNGASS, backing the position of the European Commission and MemberStates with its scientific and technical know-how.

This externally-facing activity has become increasingly important as the Centre has matured, both in terms of technical know-how and in the number of Member States on which it reports. Often in combination with the EU institutions, the EMCDDA acts as a dialogue partner or European interface for third countries and international partners when seeking information or advice about illicit drugs in Europe. While respecting the allocation of powers with regard to legislative powers between the Community and its MemberStates, the EMCDDA is able to act as a switchboard to the relevant partners at MemberState and Community level. It also acts as a trusted pilot to help external parties navigate the drugs structures and actors at MemberState level in Europe.

  1. Means and methods

The EMCDDA offers a range of options to potential partners seeking cooperation. These range from close participation in the EMCDDA’s routine data collection activities to ad hoc technical collaboration on specific supranational projects. The result is a growing sphere of influence for the Centre, and, on a global level, a means to fill gaps and enrich the detail of data collected about the drugs phenomenon.

The cooperation areas are set out below and the types of activities that fall under them are explained briefly.

  1. Exchange of data and methodological information

The open exchange of data and methodological information with all partners is the rule for the EMCDDA, as information is the core element of its work, and as transparency is a key principle for a European public body. The terms and conditions for the exchange of information with the international partners of the Centre are usually described in bilateral agreements and fully respect the EU legislation on data protection.

  1. Scientific cooperation

Scientific cooperation within and outside the EU is the cornerstone of an organisation seeking to become a centre of excellence in the field of drugs information. A priority is given to cooperation with high-level scientific institutions and with key international organisations working in the drugs field or in drugs information.

  1. Participation in the work of the EMCDDA

Participation in the work of the Centre is open to candidate and potential candidate countries, as a part of the process of acquiring the EU acquis, and also to third countries. While ad hoc cooperation agreements are decided by the EMCDDA’s Management Board, the negotiations for membership in the EMCDDA are conducted by the European Commission.

  1. Training and technical assistance

The EMCDDA has developed its own model of training and technical assistance, involving the ReitoxAcademy training programme, the Reitox network and other national experts.

Priority is awarded to providing technical assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries that are preparing themselves to become members of the EMCDDA. The Centre sometimes organises training activities for experts from third countries in the framework of Community action with these countries and upon request of the European Commission.

  1. Outlook: an open door for international cooperation

After more than a decade of existence, the EMCDDA already plays an important role on the global stage with regard to monitoring the drugs phenomenon. Many partnerships with international organisations and third countries have evolved from tentative first contacts to concrete projects that have brought tangible benefits to all parties involved. To date, international cooperation has served to enrich data quality and coverage, to avoid duplication of effort, to generate consensus in analysing responses and to publicise European know-how in the drugs field.

Based on positive experiences the Centre will continue to keep its door open for cooperation, both reinforcing existing partnerships and scanning the horizon for cooperation with other organisations.

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