Drug Policy in the European Union

Abstract

The last chapter dealt with theories of harmonization within the EU in general. This chapter examines harmonization of drug policy in particular. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, attempts have been made to harmonize drug policy on a worldwide basis. More recently, however, the EU has declared drug policy an area of subsidiarity — one in which countries have been unwilling to surrender their national sovereignty. Harmonization of drug policy resembles attempts to cooperate in areas of social policy discussed in the last chapter. National governments have maintained control while EU institutions have accepted a guiding and advisory role in this area. However, drug policy also has important attachments to the area of JHA under the third pillar of the TEU. There is an important impetus to harmonize national laws and police forces working in the area of control of organized crime and international drug trafficking. European integration in the area of drug policy has therefore not been abandoned, although it is focused on dealing with international traffickers rather than drug users themselves. This chapter examines the history of drug policy within the EU and considers continuing attempts to achieve a closer unity in national policy making.