The main point of the debate, held under the coordination of the Pompidou Group, was the impact of the economic crisis.

Recent developments were presented, mostly regarding the consequnces of austerity measures on implementing anti-drug policies in each participant country.

Concerning Romania, the main issues revealed were the growing number of HIV infected people and the replacement of heroin with other, newer, substances.

Another important aspect regarding Romania remains the lack of funds needed for minimizing the effects of drug consumption.

The participants concluded that the member states have to allocate more funds for drug consumption prevention programs. They also stated that in countries like Romania and Greece, were the spreading of HIV virus tends to become an European problem, the growth of funds granted through public health programs  is recommended along with the removal of such programs from an eventual budget cut list.

At the invitation of the Council of the Europe’s Pompidou Group, Romania attented the Workshop on Improving Coordination of Drug Policies in South East Europe, in Podgorica (Montenegro), between 2-3rd July 2013.

The meeting was organised by the Pompidou Group, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Montenegro with the financial and technical support of Support Tools and Information Exchange (TAIEX), managed by the General Directorate for Enlargement of the European Commission.

The workshop aimed at supporting Western Balcans countries to identifiy the most effective drug policy coordination mechanisms, able to respond to specific situations.

The workshop was a genuine lesson based on best practices and experience of countries in South East Europe and included a fruitful exchange of knowledge among participants.

Speakers mentioned efforts made by Montenegro in negociations with European Union, the importance of knowledge transfer in strengthening national institutional response, the role of Montenegro in the Pompidou Group, that has been attented by this country since 2011, the importance of the European strategy on drugs 2013-2020.

The role of the civil society in the development and implementation of national strategies was also underlined by all participants, that is why Sine Ira has decided to intensify its involvement in this process.

Between 20-22 June 2013, Romania participated in “Informal meeting on drug policies in South East Europe”, organised by Diogenis Association in Kalambaka, Greece.

This non-profit organisation (with a similar profile to Sine Ira) promoted during this event a dialogue on drug policy in Sout East Europe, cooperation among NGOs in Balkan countries as well as cooperation among scientists, research institutes and authorities with responsabilities in developing and implementing drug policies.

Next to Romania and Greece (host country), the event was attented by representatives of other 9 European countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia,, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia and Slovenia).

Among the issues discussed during the meeting, the following topics stirred a high interest of the participants:

• impact of the 2013-2020 European Drug Strategy and the 2013-2016 Action Plan on drug policy in South Eastern European countries;
• implementation and relevance of the Action Plan On Drugs for the EU and Western Balkans;
• outcome of the workshop held on 15 April 2013, in Thesaloniki on developments and trends in drug legislation in South Eastern Europe;
• plans and opportunities for regional cooperation on prevention, care and drug harm reduction.

The Romanian National Antidrug Agency and The Harmony of Education Association activities involve training and workshops for youth workers in nongovernmental environment from Romania, France, Great Britain, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria for conflict prevention and addictive behaviours among vulnerable groups.

The Romanian National Antidrug Agency provides formative and organisation support with experts in the filed of drug demand reduction, training and documentation in the filed of drugs, bbut also with its anti-drugs volunteers.

The Romanian National Antidrug Agency launched the training courses for project manager, part of “Creation and development of a network management for antidrug project”.

This training aims to develop the skills of planning, organising and coordinating the components of a project in the public/ governmental policies. Also the training courses aim to develop the ability to correctly identify the problem and launch a project idea, a strong interactive side, wich will focuse on the delivery of knowledge, information and practical applications during each theoretical session.

The project is co-founded by the European Social Fund through Operational Programme. ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT. 2007-2013.

Contact: Valentin Catalin NEGOI NITA, Head of International Relations and Programmes, tel./ fax: 021 317 59 59, email: programe@ana.gov.ro, web: www.ana.gov.ro.

Starting with the second half of February, the “Uncensored” will be implemented at national level by the 94prevention specialists from the centres and the evaluation and counseling of country resources and educational assistance.