P-PG/MinConf (2010) 3

Work Programme 2011-2014

adopted on 4 November 2010

Pompidou Group

15th Ministerial Conference

3 - 4 November 2010

Council of Europe

Strasbourg



Work Programme 2011-2014

1.     The Work Programme 2011 – 2014 of the Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking (hereafter Pompidou Group) was adopted during the Ministerial Conference held in Strasbourg on 3 – 4 November 2010 and is built around the results of the Work Programme 2007-2010 and the mission, organisation, governance and working methods of the Group (doc. P-PG (2010) 4 rev). It constitutes the strategic tool of the Pompidou Group for a 4 year period to meet its aim and objectives and sets out the framework for the programme implementation. The activities conducted in implementing this work programme, as well as the expected outputs, will be defined in a Plan of Activities and Outputs annually adopted by the PCs.

2.     Special attention is paid to innovation, implementation of practical solutions, pro-active approaches and cross-sectoral cooperation. The new Work Programme is based on the proposals submitted by the Permanent Correspondents of member States and topics identified by the expert Platforms as a follow up to the results of the 2007-2010 Work Programme.

Aim of the Work Programme

3.     The aim of the Work Programme of the Pompidou Group is to generate useful products that meet the needs of policy makers and contribute to more effective responses to drug related-issues.  It constitutes a framework for the activities of the Pompidou Group for its 2011-2014 work cycle.

4.     Besides a set of pre-defined activities the Work Programme gives significant space to allow for emerging concerns to be addressed in flexible ways.

5.     As a basis the work programme follows a balanced approach between drug demand reduction and supply reduction. Research plays an important role in the work programme as a basis for formulating drug policies.

6.     The work programme continues to promote networks and joint initiatives (such as Airports Group, MedNET, EXASS Net, Inter-Agency Group, Training Initiative).

Priorities

7.     Human rights will be a main transversal aspect in all activities as a means to bring human rights to the forefront of drug policies and underlining the importance of the Council of Europe’s pivotal role in this field.

8.     The 2011-2014 Work Programme focuses on:

·         coherent policies on psychoactive substances

·         international cooperation between different sectors of law enforcement, including customs and border control agencies, to combat trafficking of illicit drugs

9.     In implementing the Work programme the Pompidou Group seeks increased cooperation and coordination with other international institutions and agencies such as the European Union, in particular the European Commission, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and EUROPOL; the United Nations, in particular UNODC, INCB, UNAIDS, WHO, as well as WCO and Interpol, in order to avoid overlaps and to create synergies.

Working methods

10.  In applying the working methods of the Pompidou Group (doc. P-PG (2010) 4) the Work Programme is implemented under the supervision and guidance of the Permanent Correspondents  and their Bureau through:

·         Ad hoc experts groups;

·         Networks ;

·         Joint initiatives.

11.  In order to ensure the necessary flexibility to meet decision makers’ needs in a timely manner and

to ensure that the Pompidou Group is on top of emerging issues Permanent Correspondents can at any moment create ad hoc experts groups. The Permanent Correspondents will define the mandate and terms of reference, timespan and expected results for each ad hoc working group it designates.

12.  The Secretariat will be instrumental in organising the work of the groups and reaching the expected results. The Work Programme will be organised according to the priorities set out. The work will draw from existing best practices, pool knowledge and experience and put the results to the benefit of all member States and Network participants.

Output and products

13.  The results can take different formats and will be tailored to the needs of the target groups: policy makers, scientists and practioners. These outputs can take the form of:

·         Expert recommendations and proposals for guidelines

·         Policy papers proposing intervention models and strategies

·         Inventories of best practices

·         exchange of experience within networks

·         Analytical and comparative studies and expert report

·         On-line resources

·         Educational manuals and tools

·         Study visits and Exchange Programmes

·         collection of data

·         training

Resources

14.  The Pompidou Group activities are primarily resourced through its regular budget, based on obligatory contributions from its member States. In addition to these statutory contributions, the Pompidou Group will appeal to member States and other partners for voluntary contributions for activities that are of a particular interest to individual, or a group of, member States.

15. Participation of national experts is funded by the member States. A limited budget is available to support the participation of experts from below average GDP countries. 

Quality Control

16. The Secretariat will conduct an on-going process evaluation and regularly seek feed back to evaluate the work and activities of the Pompidou Group. In addition, different models of initial impact assessment are employed in the context of a regularly conducted SWOT analysis.

 

Activities

17.  The following list of activities will be implemented in the course of the work cycle between 2011 and summer 2014. The specific mandates for the activity including expected outputs, time line, composition of ad hoc expert groups and networks will be elaborated and adopted by the Permanent Correspondents.

Activity sector 1 : Priority Coherent Policies on Psychoactive Substances

Objective: to identify effective approaches of coherent policies for licit and illicit drugs

Activities/topics

Expected outcomes

Implementation mechanism

1.1. Experiences with coherent/integrated policies for licit and illicit drugs across Europe

Insight as to the possible added value of coherent/integrated policies

Ad hoc expert group on Research

Target date: 2010 – 2012

1.2. Analysing the applied concepts of choice and consent with regard to drug therapy, taking into account the results of the UNODC expert group on the subject

Recommendations to Member States

Ad hoc expert group on Human Rights

Target date: 2011 - 2013

1.3. Use of models in policy prediction

Working models

Ad hoc expert group on Research

Target date: 2013

1.4. Substitution treatment and road traffic, taking into account the results of the DRUID project

Guidance and advice enabling law enforcement agencies in dealing with drivers under substitution treatment

Ad hoc expert group

Target date: 2011

1.5. Methods and approaches of criminal justice sector in dealing with recidivism among drug-addicted offenders

Analysis of patterns of recidivism and prerogatives for successful interventions; possible guidelines based on successful instruments to prevent recidivism

Ad hoc expert group

Target date: 2013

1.6. Accommodating different dimensions of diversity in care systems to accommodate diverse needs of clients

Methods of integrating needs of different professional disciplines, ways of specific provisions for specific target groups, coherent and integrated responses to poly-drug use;

Indentified prerogatives for effectively meeting diverse needs of clients

Ad hoc expert group

Target date: 2012

1.7. Assessing the effectiveness of awareness raising campaigns

Experiences of Member States with awareness raising campaigns, examples of good practice with proven effectiveness in Europe

Ad hoc expert group

Target date: 2012


Activity Sector 2 : Priority international cooperation between different sectors of law enforcement, including customs and border control agencies, to combat trafficking of illicit drugs

Objective: Enhanced capacity and competence in combating drug-related organised crime and illicit drug  trafficking

Activities/topics

Expected outcomes

Implementation mechanism

2.1. Prevention of chemical precursor diversion and illegal production

Inter-agency cooperation on chemical precursor diversion modi operandi

Ad hoc expert group in coordination with the Airports Group

Target date: 2011

2.2. Define operational needs for passenger name records

More targeted profiling of traffickers

Airports Group

Target date: on going

2.3. Comparison of modi operandi in trafficking of human beings, money laundering and drug trafficking to identify criminal organisations

Higher detection rates and possibility to better target resources and efforts

Airports Group

Target date: on going

2.4. Monitoring of the risks of drug trafficking via general aviation

 

More effective and targeted drug seizure strategies

Airports Group

Target date: on going

2.5. Identifying a secure information exchange system for airports law enforcement, customs and border control agencies

Improved direct communication between law enforcement, customs and border control agencies

Airports Group

Target date: on going

2.6. Airports crime

Better understanding of trafficking risks involving airport personnel

Airports Group

Target date: on going


3. Networks and Joint initiatives

Name and task

Objectives

Contributions to Priorities

3.1. Airports Group: comprises law enforcement, customs and border control agency officers from European countries dealing with combating drug trafficking in European airports and civil aviation

The main objective of this Group is to develop and harmonise tools and systems to improve drug detection in European airports.

The group primarily acts as a forum for the exchange of practical information on problems and operational practice. It has also increasingly developed specific projects thereby deepening the level of co-operation among drug control services.

Priority international cooperation between different sectors of law enforcement, customs and border control agencies, to combat trafficking of illicit drugs:

·         Define operational needs for passenger name records;

·         Comparison of modi operandi in trafficking;

·         Monitoring of the risks of drug trafficking via general aviation;

·         Identifying a secure information exchange system;

·         Airports crime.

3.2. EXASS Net: European network of partnerships between stakeholders at frontline level responding to drug problems providing experience and  assistance  for inter - sectoral  cooperation 

 

EXASS Net links the level of policy management with practice and professional experience through

·         On-going exchange of experiences leading to successful cooperation

·         Identifying ways to overcome barriers to cooperation

·         Providing mutual support

·         Facilitating know-how transfer and technical assistance

Priority human rights:

1.6. Accommodating different dimensions of diversity in care systems to accommodate diverse needs of clients

Priority coherent policies:

1.4. Substitution treatment and road traffic

1.5. Methods and approaches of criminal justice sector in dealing with recidivism among drug-addicted offenders

3.3. PG Training Initiative: by providing executive education to drug policy experts and managers the initiative seeks to better link policy, research and practice.

The aim is to facilitate know-how and build capacities for more effective implementation, management and evaluation of drug policy and related programmes, by

·         Establishing the needs of the target group in their work with implementing drug policies

·         Facilitating input, experience and know-how to better deal with the identified needs

Priority coherent policies:

1.1.Experiences with coherent/integrated policies for licit and illicit drugs across Europe

1.3. Use of models in policy prediction

1.6. Accommodating different dimensions of diversity in care systems to accommodate diverse needs of clients

4. Activities financed by voluntary contributions

Name and task

Objectives

Contributions to Priorities

4.1. Airports Group: Joint control operations with operational task force

Supervised and coordinated responses to trafficking risks

Priority inernational law enforcement cooperation: joint action on multi-lateral level

4.2. European Drug Prevention Prize: The European Drug Prevention Prize, launched in 2004, is awarded every two years to three drug prevention projects that fully involve young people, either in the development and implementation of activities, decision-making, project management and/or evaluation.

The Prize is awarded every two years, depending on availability of voluntary contributions, in order to highlight good-quality drug prevention projects that have proved success in practice in involving young people. In general, it aims to encourage the development of drug prevention work that involves young people.

Priority human rights: Examples of good practice on effective target group involvement with human rights focus  (Ministerial Conf. 2014)

Priority coherent policies: Examples of good practice dealing with the prevention of licit and illicit drug abuse (Mid-term Conference 2012)

4.3. European Prevention Forum: active participation of young people in drug prevention

Through the combination of the plenary sessions and workshops the participants of the Forum will

seek to:

·         promote youth participation in drugs policies,

·         contribute to the development of evidence-based programmes for healthy lifestyles and the well-being of young people,

·         bridge policies, research and practice in drugs prevention.

Priority human rights: Addressing the dimension of ethnicity, gender non-discrimination in drug prevention.

Priority coherent policies: Tackling poly-drug use among young people

4.5. MedNET:  Mediterranean network for co-operation on drugs and drug addictions

Dialogue between countries in the Mediterranean region

Priority human rights: Promoting human rights in drug policies.

Priority coherent policies: providing competence and knowledge on balanced drug policies

Priority international law enforcement cooperation: MedNET law enforcement activities,participation in specific PG law enforcement activities.

4.6. ESSD Summer Course: training of young researchers in the drugs field on qualitative drug research

Intensive training course in cooperation with ESSD (annually, depending on availability of voluntary contributions)

Potential contributions to all priority areas

4.7. European Research Register: linking researchers and research  projects on drugs issues

Better overview and cooperation in drug related research in Europe

Potential contributions to all priority areas