Politiek akkoord tussen lidstaten over betere controles op handel in grondstoffen voor drugs (en)

July 17, 2013, Brussels. Lithuanian EU Council Presidency secured agreement of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I) on the final compromise text of the Amendment of the Regulation laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the EU and third countries in drug precursors, which was recently negotiated by the Council and the European Parliament.

The amendments of the regulation will provide additional powers to Customs and other competent authorities of the Member States to act more rapidly in preventing the illicit manufacture and smuggling of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.

One of the priorities of Lithuanian EU Council Presidency is the effective control of EU external borders, fight against smuggling and fraud. The timely finalization of the adoption of this regulation will contribute to the implementation of this important task.

Ambassador Arūnas Vinčiūnas, Chairman of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, thanked the Irish Presidency for their substantial work in establishing the position of the Council on this important Regulation. Lithuanian Presidency took over the negotiations on this legislative act with the European Parliament and completed them.

Ambassador Vinčiūnas signed the letter on behalf of the Council with the compromise text attached, which will be sent to the INTA Committee of the European Parliament, informing that this text is acceptable to the Council and proposing that an agreement in first reading could be reached.