ocuments - Andean Community - Conclusions of the VIIIth High Level Specialized Dialogue on Drugs between the Andean Community and the European Union

Conclusions of the VIII^th High Level Specialized Dialogue on Drugs between the Andean Community and the European Union

Lima, June 1, 2005

1. The VIIIth High Level Specialized Dialogue on Drugs between the European Union and the Andean Community was held in Lima on 31 May and 1 June 2005. The meeting was characterized by an open and constructive spirit allowing for a most fruitful exchange of views on the main aspects of the fight against illicit drugs, in particular, on supply control and demand reduction.

2. Following the Luxembourg Ministerial meeting on 26 May 2005 between the EU and the Andean Community, which re-affirmed both regions’ continued commitment to the principle of shared responsibility as the cornerstone of the fight against illicit drugs, both parties agreed that, in order to tackle the worsening and new manifestations of the illicit drug problem in the Andean Community countries, strengthened efforts were needed.

3. Both parties underlined the importance of a balanced and global approach to address all relevant supply and demand issues taking into account the serious negative impact which illicit drug production, trafficking and consumption have upon the stability of the institutions in the Andean countries and upon social and economic well-being in both the Andean Community countries and the European Union.

4. Both parties noted that close cooperation at multilateral level in the field of drugs was considered of utmost importance and they welcomed in this context the successful joint actions at the 48th CND session in Vienna in March 2005 which led to both regions commonly presenting draft resolutions in the areas of alternative development and chemical precursors. They further highlighted the co-sponsoring of other draft resolutions. Both parties committed themselves to continue to work together in the run-up to the 49th CND session.

5. Both parties welcomed the constructive VIth meeting for the follow up of Chemical Precursor Agreements on 30 May 2005, as well as the significant progress made by both regions on cooperation in this area since the V meeting held in Brussels in 2004. In this regard, both parties reported on the recent adoption of legislation in both regions leading to improvements in the control of chemical precursors. Both parties stressed the importance of closer cooperation in order to avoid the diversion of chemical substances and precursors used in the production of illicit drugs, illustrated by the ongoing PRECAN project. Both parties agreed on the desirability of enlarging the scope of this cooperation, in order to avoid the production and consumption of synthetic drugs in the Andean region.

6. Both parties stressed the importance of closer intra- and inter-regional cooperation in the fields of, in particular, chemical precursors control, data collection and cooperation between law and administrative enforcement authorities.

7. There was an in-depth exchange of views about alternative development, including on the notion of preventive alternative development, as an important component of a global and effective strategy in the fight against illicit drugs. Increased cooperation among the Andean Community countries in this area was noted and encouraged. The European side welcomed the announcement of a comprehensive Andean Strategy on Alternative Development which will shortly be approved. Both parties agreed on the need for further consultation with a view to implementing that strategy.

8. Both parties acknowledged the significant resources devoted to cooperation projects in the Andean Community by the EU as well as by its Member States. These projects focused mainly on alternative development, drug precursors control, demand reduction and law enforcement. The parties emphasized the need to examine the scope for additional financial and technical cooperation to help the Andean Community in its struggle against drugs, as well as to ensure a coordinated approach.

9. The meeting welcomed the following suggestions which would be examined in detail:

a) Improving regional Andean law enforcement cooperation along lines similar to those of Europol

b) Enhancing support for the control of precursors and chemical substances in the framework of the PRECAN project, inspired by the example of the European Joint Unit for Precursors (EJUP).

c) Strengthening of the Andean Drugs Monitoring Centre

d) Supporting national and intra-regional supply and demand reduction strategies to combat illicit drugs and reduce the harm to society caused by illicit drug use.

e) Concluding cooperation agreements between Andean states and Europol to facilitate the exchange of strategic and operational information, inter alia with a view to supporting joint investigation teams

f) Drawing up a model bilateral law enforcement agreement between European Union and Andean Community countries, taking into account the different legal frameworks between Andean countries.

g) Supporting the implementation of the Andean Strategy on Alternative Development (to be adopted shortly).

10. In order to strengthen the quality of the High Level Specialized Dialogue on Drugs, both parties agreed on the importance to meet regularly in Brussels in order to analyze the initiatives and prepare for the next high-level meeting, at which, a report on the development of the initiatives identified above should be presented. These initiatives were to be considered in the context of the conclusions of the Ministerial meeting of 26 May 2005 in Luxembourg.

11. The Andean countries presented a proposal to convene a Ministerial Meeting to evaluate the achievements of the High Level Dialogue and to define a way to strengthen the bi-regional cooperation against illicit drugs. The EU side took note of the proposal and undertook to transmit it to its Ministers.