Ladies and Gentlemen,
The World Day against Drug Abuse reminds us that drugs are one of the most long-standing, but continuously evolving threats to our societies and to our young people.
Lives and dreams of users, families and friends collapse, while, on the other hand, organised crime makes huge, unmoral, profits.
Recently, I presented in Brussels the European Drug Report for 2017. Unfortunately ,its conclusions are worrying for Europe.
For the third year in a row, overdose deaths are on the rise, while new very harmful and powerful synthetic opioids are appearing on the market. Only small quantities are needed to produce many thousands of potent doses.
According to Europol’s data, the European drug market generates, at least, the enormous amount of 24 billion euro per year.
This money ends up in the pockets of criminal groups that exploit technology to promote their illegal activity and increase their profits.
As you know, the competence for public health issues, including drugs, lies with the Member States.
The role of the European Union is to support and complement the actions of Member States in their policies against drugs.
Our objective is not only to protect the health of our citizens but also to fight against organised crime.
Despite my particularly heavy obligations and responsibilities in tackling the migration crisis and the threats to our security, the fight against drugs is a key priority for me.
Let me stress here that Europe is not just about numbers, as some people claim. Europe has, and needs to further strengthen, its social face; because Europe without its social face is not Europe.
And let me express my satisfaction for the fact that the last two and a half years, we have taken very important initiatives in the field of the fight against drugs, not only within the EU, but also at global level.
We have a modern and comprehensive European Strategy against Drugs. A few months ago we presented an interim evaluation of our Strategy, after extensive consultation with Member States and stakeholders.
Last week, the Council adopted the new EU Action Plan on Drugs for the period 2017-2020, largely based on the proposal that I had presented to the Member States.
It is an updated Action Plan which builds on existing actions and identifies new areas of intervention. We focus, inter alia, on prevention, particularly as regards the younger ages, through the use of new technologies and the internet. Moreover, we introduce new actions to examine possible links between drug traffickers and terrorist financing networks, migrants smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
Following a proposal of the European Commission, an agreement with the European Parliament and the Council was reached on a new legislative framework for new psychoactive substances, after years of negotiations. I would like to underline here, that according to our data, one new psychoactive substance is detected every week!
Now, we will be able to act faster and more effectively at European and national level against these dangerous substances.
The European Union is also in the lead in the worldwide fight against drugs together with global partners.
We work within the framework of the UN and through our bilateral cooperation with our strategic partners, like the US, and we are committed to intensify our efforts, in order to effectively identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks. A few days ago I had the opportunity to raise the issue in the EU-US Ministerial meeting on Justice and Home Affairs in Malta.
Our country, due to its geographical location, has a special position in the world map of international drug trafficking of narcotic substances originating from Asian and South American countries. This is why the cooperation of European law enforcement authorities under the coordination of Europol is crucial.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Like terrorism, also drugs networks know no borders. These threats can only be addressed if we act together and coordinated.
Prevention is more crucial especially when it comes to drugs. Drugs are not connected to a particular social group or class, targeting, often, vulnerable or younger people.
Our response towards these people cannot be social isolation and indifference. Supporting people who are at risk of drugs cannot be a “luxury” for social protection schemes. These are people who need our help, support and solidarity.
It is a collective duty for our societies, especially towards the younger generations, not to leave these people on the margins. It is our obligation to give to these people the opportunity to stand up on their feet again.
The role of the European Union, the State and the Church, the public authorities, social partners, teachers, family and friends, is crucial.
The European Commission and I personally, in my capacity as European Commissioner, we stand with our Member States, with Greece and with your efforts to tackle this sensitive issue. Especially for the young people but also all those who need our support.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the Greek Coordinator for drugs for the today’s initiative and to wish you a fruitful and constructive conference.
Thank you.