JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

Date: 12/06/1997

An extensive report on the problem of organised crime within the Union will be presented to EU leaders.

The study was put together by a high-level group of experts following last December's Dublin summit. It will suggest a series of measures including increased powers for the fledgling police agency Europol and drawing up a 'pre-accession pact' on cooperation in the fight against crime with the countries of central and eastern Europe (CEECs) lining up to join the Union.

It will also call on all member states to make membership of a criminal organisation a specific offence, as is already the case in Italy.

In addition, heads of state and government will be presented with a study of progress made in the EU-wide fight against drugs over the past six months.

A report will highlight action taken to tackle drug addiction through public health policy following the launch of a European Commission-backed information campaign in January.

It will also outline developments at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), stressing the headway made in implementing the EU-wide 'REITOX' information network on drugs and drug addiction which is jointly sponsored by the EMCDDA and member states.