Today, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) adopted a report creating the European Union Drugs Agency and endowing it with new competences.
The new agency would have a stronger capacity for analysis and monitoring, and a faster and more efficient early-warning system. To boost the preparedness of the EU, it would also adopt health and security threat assessments. Furthermore, the agency would be tasked with: helping national authorities collect data, establishing a network of toxicological laboratories, and promoting best practice in the field of prevention, risk and harm reduction, treatment, care and rehabilitation.
Next, the report will be discussed by the European Parliament plenary, after which it will form the EP’s position in negotiations with the Council on the final form of the law.