Article 1
Establishment and scope of the Programme
Article 2
General objectives
Article 3
Specific objectives
Article 4
Actions
Article 5
Participation
Article 6
Target groups
Article 7
Access to the Programme
Article 8
Types of intervention
Article 9
Implementing measures
Article 10
Committee
Article 11
Complementarity
Article 12
Budgetary resources
Article 13
Monitoring
Article 14
Protection of Community financial interests
Article 15
Evaluation
Article 16
Publication of projects
Article 17
Visibility
Article 18
Entry into force
Decision No 1150/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 25 September 2007
establishing for the period 2007-2013 the Specific Programme ‘Drug prevention and information’ as part of the General Programme ‘Fundamental Rights and Justice’
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 152 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ,
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions ,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty ,
Whereas:
(1)
According to the Treaty, a high level of human health should be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities. Community action is required to include a contribution to the attainment of a high level of health protection.
(2)
Community action should complement national policies directed towards improving public health, obviating sources of danger to human health and reducing health-related harm associated with drug dependence, including information and prevention policies.
(3)
Given that, according to research, the morbidity and the mortality associated with drug dependence affects a sizeable number of European citizens, the health-related harm associated with drug dependence constitutes a major problem for public health.
(4)
The Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the results of the final evaluation of the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan on Drugs (2000 to 2004) pointed out the need regularly to involve civil society in the formulation of the EU’s policies on drugs.
(5)
Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003 to 2008) includes the development of strategies and measures on drug dependence, as one of the important lifestyle-related health determinants.
(6)
In Recommendation 2003/488/EC of 18 June 2003 on the prevention and reduction of health-related harm associated with drug dependence , the Council recommended that Member States set as a public health objective the prevention of drug dependence and the reduction of related risks, and that they develop and implement comprehensive strategies accordingly.
(7)
In December 2004, the European Council endorsed the EU Drugs Strategy 2005 to 2012, which covers all European Union drug-related activities and sets main targets. These targets include the attainment of a high level of health protection, well-being and social cohesion by preventing and reducing drug use, dependence and drug-related harm to health and society.
(8)
The Council adopted the EU Drugs Action Plan (2005 to 2008) as a crucial instrument for transposing the EU Drugs Strategy 2005 to 2012 into concrete actions. The ultimate aim of the Action Plan is to reduce significantly the prevalence of drug use among the population and to reduce the social harm and health damage caused by the use of and trade in illicit drugs.
(9)
The specific programme, ‘Drug prevention and information’, established under this Decision (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’) aims at implementing targets identified by the EU Drugs Strategy 2005 to 2012 and the EU Drugs Action Plans 2005 to 2008 and 2009 to 2012, by supporting projects aimed at preventing drug use, including by addressing reduction of drug-related harm and treatment methods taking into account the latest scientific knowledge.
(10)
It is important and necessary to recognise the serious, immediate and long-term implications of drugs for health, for psychological and social development including the equal opportunities of those concerned, for individuals, families and communities, and to recognise the high social and economic costs to society as a whole.
(11)
Special attention should be paid to the prevention of drug use among young people who are the most vulnerable in the population. The main challenge in prevention is to encourage young people to adopt healthy lifestyles.
(12)
The European Community can bring added value to the actions to be undertaken by Member States in the field of drug prevention and information, including treatment and reduction of drug-related harm, by complementing those actions and by promoting synergies.
(13)
In accordance with Article 7(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission , the European Parliament should be informed by the Commission of committee proceedings relating to the implementation of this programme. In particular, the European Parliament should receive the draft annual programme when it is submitted to the management committee. In addition, the European Parliament should receive the results of voting and summary records of the meetings of that Committee.
(14)
Complementarity with the technical expertise of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Centre’) should be assured by making use of methodology and best practices developed by the Centre and by its involvement in the preparation of the annual work programme.
(15)
Since the objectives of this Decision cannot, because of the need for an exchange of information at Community level and for the Community-wide dissemination of good practices, be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, due to the need for a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach and by reason of the scale and effects of the Programme, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
(16)
Bearing in mind the importance of visibility of the Community funding, the Commission should provide guidance to ensure that any authority, non-governmental organisation, international organisation or other entity receiving a grant under the Programme acknowledges properly the support received.
(17)
This Decision lays down for the entire duration of the Programme, a financial envelope constituting the prime reference within the meaning of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure.
(18)
Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities , (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Financial Regulation’), and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 , which safeguard the Community’s financial interests, should be applied taking into account the principles of simplicity and consistency in the choice of budgetary instruments, a limitation on the number of cases where the Commission retains direct responsibility for their implementation and management, and the required proportionality between the amount of resources and the administrative burden related to their use.
(19)
Appropriate measures should also be taken to prevent irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) .
(20)
The Financial Regulation requires a basic act to be provided to cover operating grants.
(21)
The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, with a distinction being made between those measures which are subject to the management procedure and those which are subject to the advisory procedure, the advisory procedure being in certain cases, with a view to increased efficiency, the more appropriate.
(22)
In order to ensure the effective and timely implementation of the Programme, this Decision should apply from 1 January 2007,
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
OJ C 69, 21.3.2006, p. 1.
OJ C 192, 16.8.2006, p. 25.
Opinion of the European Parliament of 14 December 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 23 July 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and position of the European Parliament of 6 September 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
OJ L 271, 9.10.2002, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision No 786/2004/EC (OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 7).
OJ L 165, 3.7.2003, p. 31.
OJ C 168, 8.7.2005, p. 1.
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).
OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.
OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1995/2006 (OJ L 390, 30.12.2006, p. 1).
OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 478/2007 (OJ L 111, 28.4.2007, p. 13).
OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.
OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.