Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-04-08-Speech-2-146"
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"en.20030408.3.2-146"2
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"Mr President, the aim of the proposal before us is to crush the current policy on drugs, which is based on three United Nations Conventions. It seriously questions the sense of zero tolerance with regard to drugs. The rapporteur must be given credit for having cunningly hidden her real message behind technical nuances of meaning.
The change to the classification of drugs in the UN Conventions, which is called for in the report, is unnecessary. The entire reclassification is merely a code name to disguise the promotion of a liberal policy on drugs. To put it simply: we are speaking here about legalising the use of cannabis, partially decriminalising the sale of cannabis and its derivatives, and making heroin available under supervision. This I cannot agree to.
A restrictive drugs policy, in other words zero tolerance, is the only way to adopt a position on drugs. This policy has had good results. In the Nordic countries we have managed to control the drugs problem to a greater extent than elsewhere in Europe. As an example of the results that have been achieved I might mention that there has been a reduction in drug deaths and drug-related crime, and the number of experiments with drugs has levelled off.
A sad example of a liberal drugs policy is the ‘model country’ for this trend, the Netherlands. According to Europol statistics, more than 50% of the synthetic drugs circulating in Europe are produced in the Netherlands. Just as my colleague, Mr Oostlander, said here earlier on, it is quite clear that drugs and their use proliferate wherever there is a favourable attitude to them.
As background data, the report uses studies by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. The importance of these studies wanes, however, when one considers the background of this unit’s former director. In January this person had to resign from his post because it became evident that, in addition to his regular duties, he was promoting the legalisation of drugs.
The question of attitude to drugs is one of principle. We politicians have to be conscious of our responsibilities and act in accordance with them. Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to think carefully about what sort of message you want to send out in tomorrow’s vote, especially to the young."@en1
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