Study on the European Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020 and the national drug policies of 8 EU countries: divergences, convergences, gaps and areas for developments
The EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs analyses the degree of implementation of EU drug priorities and the national drug policies of 8 EU countries – Download study
Although drug policies are the exclusive competence of each country, the reports, plans and other initiatives developed by the EU institutions nevertheless constitute a coordination platform for joint and long-term action in this field, from an integrated and multidisciplinary perspective.
One of the main tools at the disposal of these institutions is the elaboration of Drug Strategies and Action Plans. This is why ensuring their correct national transposition and implementation is key to ensure that European countries are on the same line in drug policy and that together, they make progress.
The EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) is an expert group of the European Commission that represents some forty civil society organisations in Europe working in different fields and from different perspectives. One of the issues on which its work focuses is the contribution to and analysis of the European Drug Strategies and their corresponding Action Plans.
Thanks to funding from the European Commission, the CSFD in coordination with a research team (including Dianova collaborator Dr. Antonio Molina Fernández), has published a study on “The EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020 and the National Drug Policies of 8 European States: Divergences, Convergences, Gaps and Areas for Developments” (available in English only). The countries analysed are Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Serbia.
The study recognises that some of the most important objectives and recommendations of the EU Action Plan 2017-2020 are either not reflected in national policies or, if they are, are not translated into practical implementation. The study furthermore identifies common barriers as well as areas for improvement at national policy level. Therefore, this study provides a detailed analysis that is highly relevant for those involved or interested in policy formation and implementation processes at both EU and national level.
