Home > Pompidou Group work programme 2007-2010.

Connolly, Johnny (2007) Pompidou Group work programme 2007-2010. Drugnet Ireland, Issue 21, spring 2007, pp. 28-29.

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The Council of Europe’s response to drug use and drug trafficking is carried out through a multi-disciplinary co-operation group known as the Pompidou Group. Named after French president, Georges Pompidou, it was set up in 1971 and now comprises 35 member states.

The mission of the Pompidou Group is to contribute to the quality of European drug policies, practices and research by identifying issues raised through practical experience, promoting evidence-based policies and facilitating communication between professionals of various disciplines and between EU and non-EU countries. The work of the Pompidou Group is structured around six platforms: prevention, treatment, criminal justice, airports, ethics and human rights, and research.

In November 2006, the Ministerial Conference, which is the political authority of the Pompidou Group and which meets every four years, agreed a draft work programme for 2007–2010.1 The work programme concentrates on the following main objectives: developing effective programmes in the areas of demand reduction and supply control, addressing transversal issues and facilitating co-operation and joint activities. Some of the planned activities to be undertaken in line with these objectives are outlined in the table below.

Objectives

Activities/topics

Expected output

Objective 1: Demand reduction

Prevention

 

 

Promote participation by young people in prevention

European prevention prize

Three prizes every other year for projects exemplifying participatory approaches

Promote internet-based support

Programme on virtual training and resource centre

Interactive support tool for practitioners working with parents

Treatment

 

 

Identify needs, problems and experience-based knowledge

Consider treatment modalities for specific substances and groups

Identify good practice approaches

Objective 2: Supply control
Criminal justice

 

 

Review the operation of drug courts/ specialised magistrates

Assess implementation procedures and evaluation

Identify good practice

Review judicial co-operation and the process of joint investigations

Identify barriers in practice

Identify good practice standards and future priorities

Airports

 

 

Improve law enforcement in European airports

Facilitate access to databases for frontline officers

Identification of data needs

Objective 3: Transversal issues
Ethics and human rights

 

 

Explore ethical issues and human rights basis for drug policies and programmes

Implications of workplace drug screening

Implications of research findings in neurosciences and genetics

Promotion of good practice

Research

 

 

Register research activity

Develop web-based research registry in collaboration with EMCDDA

Inventory/Register

Co-operation

 

 

Promote inter-service co-operation at implementation level

Develop European network of partnerships at frontline level responding to drug problems

Exchange of best practice; training; strategies to address public nuisance

Promote drug awareness among media personnel

Develop European training project for journalists on drug prevention and use

Training courses; national follow-up activties; examples of new reporting formats

       


The expected results from the activities undertaken through the work programme include the identification of barriers in practice and priorities for further action, and the setting of standards of good practice. The format in which these outcomes are presented and disseminated varies and is tailored to the needs of specific target groups, be they policy makers, practitioners or researchers. Outputs may include policy papers, recommendations and guidelines for standards, comparative studies, expert reports or on-line resources. A particular focus is placed on education and training and the transfer of know-how. Another priority of the Pompidou Group is to identify overlaps and avoid duplication in practice, particularly among the various international organisations active in the drugs area. Consequently, co-operation initiatives are planned with a range of groups, including the Mediterranean Network (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, France and the Netherlands), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the World Health Organization. The work of the Pompidou Group is evaluated on an ongoing basis.  

1.  Pompidou Group Ministerial Conference (2006) Work Programme 2007–2010. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.  Available on the Council of Europe website at www.coe.int/pompidou

Item Type
Article
Publication Type
International, Open Access, Article
Drug Type
Substances (not alcohol/tobacco)
Issue Title
Issue 21, spring 2007
Date
January 2007
Page Range
pp. 28-29
Publisher
Health Research Board
Volume
Issue 21, spring 2007
EndNote
Accession Number
HRB (Available)

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