PROPOSAL FOR DIALOGUE ON DRUG POLICY

We would like to make the following proposal for the future dialogue process between the European Commission and civil society on drug policy in the European Union. This proposal is based on several years of experience with dialogue processes concerning the multifaceted drugs phenomenon at a European, national and local level, and on an analysis of dialogue structures on other issues in the European Union.

This proposal contains suggestions for the objectives, methodology, structure, framework, content, outcomes and practical organisation of the dialogue.

Objectives

The objectives of the dialogue should be to engage all participants; and enhance their understanding of the drug phenomenon. It is important to ensure that a consensus amongst civil society organisations behind certain recommendations that they may wish to make to policy-makers is the widest possible, so that such recommendations can become clear signals to the institutions of the European Union.

Methodology

The methodology should be designed to create an environment where all participants can feel confident. Civil society has long been ignored in the drug policy-making process, so the first expectation is to be allowed to speak and be listened to. On the other hand, it is important to avoid the dialogue becoming a discussion where participants seek to impose their views rather than listening and understanding the views of others.

Structure

The detailed structure of the dialogue should be agreed upon by both representatives of EU institutions and of civil society together. It should respect the diversity of all existing networks and organisations. Transparency and accessibility should be safeguarded during the entire process.

A possible structure could consist of two instruments:

1. Independent body

An independent body can be created, with equal representation of European networks of civil society organisations on one side and European Union authorities on the other. The body (of max. 25 people) is moderated by a Member of the European Parliament. This body meets twice a year, in order to supervise the process that will take place in the civil society forum (plenary session and working groups). Thus, it can ensure that all decisions around the forum are taken in a transparent way. This body discusses proposals to feed the dialogue process and the follow up that may be given to the recommendations that arise from it.

Meetings of this body could coincide with the annual meetings of the Horizontal Drugs Group where the EU Action Plan is evaluated, with the aim of including the input from civil society in this evaluation process.

The European civil society representatives who would participate in this independent body should be chosen by the civil society forum (see 2.)., taking account of mechanisms to safeguard the geographic, organisational and sectorial representativity. Ideally, they should cover the largest possible number of affected and concerned citizens: consumers, relatives, health workers, experts and involved citizens.

2. The civil society forum

A civil society forum on drug policy can be created, that is open and accessible to all European civil society organisations working in the drugs field which fulfil certain agreed criteria regarding transparency and representation.

The forum consists of one plenary session each year (to which all participating organisations can be invited) and various specialist/sectoral sessions with a number of smaller working group, that would deal with specific themes. To these sessions representatives of the European Commission, Member State Governments, the EMCDDA, EUROPOL and the European Parliament could be invited as observers.

An Internet forum could be established to prepare these meetings and follow up on them.

The aim of the civil society forum is to produce recommendations of both the majority and minority of civil society representatives present, in order to be included in the revision of the current EU Action Plan and the design of forthcoming Action Plans.

Admission of participants

In order to identify the organisations that are invited to become a member of the civil society forum, a survey can be elaborated.

All organisations who participated in the preparation phase of the dialogue process as it has been carried out so far (Conference in January 2006 and Responses on Green Paper of September 2006) will receive such a survey, and will be asked to nominate other candidate organisations who would receive a survey as well. On the basis of the results of this survey a first selection can be made of organisations to participate in the first civil society forum. Membership can be rotating, so a large as possible number of organisations can participate in this forum.

When selecting the composition of the forum, attention should be given to the following criteria:

Priority should be given to representatives of European and national networks, but if some weakness was identified during the preparatory process concerning the coverage of some areas, the possibility for other organisations that do not belong to any network and have expertise in any concrete issue should be opened.

European networks should have member organisations in a significant number of EU Member States.

Organisations should be able to prove that they have transparent rules on membership and decision-making structures. In principle, membership should be accessible to any citizen.

The admission of participants to the working groups could be established according to various criteria, depending on the division of the working groups.

These criteria can be based on the different sectors covered by drug policies. They can also focus on specific issues that are cross-sectorial.

Working groups will produce recommendations in their specific area of competence. These groups could be invited to produce annual reports, a summary of which could be published as an annex to the annual report of the EMCDDA.

Content

The content of the dialogue could consist of the political agenda, based on the evaluation and preparation of current and new European Union Action Plans and Strategies on Drugs, as well as on issues that become relevant during the course of the dialogue. In order to promote authentic discussion in stead of strategic debates, it is also important to include the possibility of discussing open questions such as:

How to design models for drug policy that effectively reduces the accessibility of drugs to minors?

How to design models for drug policy that effectively improve people’s lives?

How to improve coordination between initiatives of citizens and authorities around drugs in Europe?

How to improve and share knowledge about long term efficacy of measures and programmes aimed at reducing or avoiding drug related problems?

Result

The dialogue should aim to be an enrichening experience for all participants. Thus it will automatically have a positive impact on the process concerning drug policy in Europe. The concrete result could be formulated within regular recommendations towards European Institutions with regards to the current implementation of drug policies. Ideally, these recommendations would be shared by the largest possible number of civil society organisations.

On behalf of ENCOD,

Christine Kluge, Germany
 Marina Impallomeni, Italy
 Virginia Montañes, Spain
 Farid Ghehioueche, France
 Jan van der Tas, Netherlands
 Joep Oomen, Belgium

(Steering Committee)

EUROPEAN COALITION FOR JUST AND EFFECTIVE DRUG POLICIES

Lange Lozanastraat 14 – 2018 Antwerpen - Belgium

Tel. + 32 (0)3 293 0886 – Mob. + 32 (0)495 122644

E-mail: info at encod.org / www.encod.org