Draft Guidelines for Cooperation in the Dublin Group - Hoofdinhoud

Council of the European Union Brussels, 9 October 2017 (OR. en)

9161/2/17 REV 2

CORDROGUE 59 JAI 426 SAN 196

NOTE

From: The Presidency of the Dublin Group

To: Dublin Group

No. prev. doc.: 7641/1/06 REV1

Subject: Draft Guidelines for Cooperation in the Dublin Group

Delegations will find in Annex the revised Guidelines for cooperation in the Dublin Group as amended taking into account delegations' comments received at and after the Dublin Group meeting held on 2 June 2017.

Changes compared to doc. 9191/1/17 REV 1 are indicated in bold for new text and strike-through for deleted text.

ANNEX

GUIDELINES FOR COOPERATION IN THE DUBLIN GROUP

• 1. 

  The Dublin Group is a flexible, informal consultation and coordination mechanism for global, regional and country-specific problems of illicit drugs production, trafficking and demand. It is based on consensus and mutual assistance. Its participants cooperate closely on

  international, regional and bilateral drugs policy, taking into account in particular the UN Conventions on narcotic drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol and of 1971 and 1988, 2009 Political Declaration, 2014 High-Level Ministerial Statement, and the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem outcome document texts agreed at the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 1998 and the work being done on the basis of these instruments by other groups or organisations.

• 2. 

  Its members participants are the Member States of the European Union, the European

  Commission, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, the United States, the European Commission and the UNODC.

• 3. 

  Where appropriate, Dublin Group fora should cooperate, including by invitation to relevant meetings, with international and regional organisations such as World Bank, WHO, WCO, Interpol, ILO, UNESCO, CICAD, Pompidou group, EMCDDA and Europol to enhance

  synergies in their respective work and to avoid overlap.

• 4. 

  Applications to join the Dublin Group as a new member or an observer is subject to certain criteria and will be examined on in a case by case basis. The decision is taken by consensus.

  Criteria for new members should be the following ones: net donors of international drug assistance, demonstrate commitment to meaningfully contribute to international counter narcotic efforts to address the World drug problem in all its aspects, share the principles guiding the cooperation in the Dublin Group and respect human rights and the rule of law in pursuing international counter narcotic efforts on the World drug problem. The new members of the Dublin Group should agree to abide by the decisions already made by the Dublin Group.

In order to become a member of the Dublin Group, the State sends a letter to the Central

Group through its Regional Chair.

If a State intends to leave the Dublin Group, the State shall provide a notice of its intention through its Regional Chair coordinator. In this case, the approval of the Dublin Group member states is not necessary.

To become an observer, a State sends a letter through the Regional Chair coordinator to be approved by consensus at the first meeting of the Central Dublin Group The same procedure for stopping, the status of observer being granted at the level Mini Dublin status as for leaving the groups is applicable should a, following a case-by-case analysis. It is not necessary for a state no longer wish to already be involved in the work of the mini-groups in order to become an observer. Observers are not required to chair regional or sub-regional groups nor compile data in formal reports.

Observers can contribute to consultations within the Dublin Group by supporting recommendations and contribute, if they deem necessary, to the compilation of data for the formal reports. The contribution of the observers is without prejudice to the analysis and the conclusions of the reports submitted by the Mini and Regional groups to the Central level. Observers cannot chair a Regional or a Mini Dublin Group.

If those criteria cease to be applied, the Central Dublin Group can, by consensus and at any time, end the membership or the observer status of a State. The effective date of the termination of the membership or the observer status of a State is the date of the official letter sent by the Central Group.

• 5. 

  The Dublin Group operates on three levels: the central level, the regional level and the local level.

At the central level, participants attend meetings which deal first and foremost with matters of fundamental significance that require joint discussion and coordination, including recommendations from regional chairs and Mini Dublin groups. Conclusions and, where appropriate, guidance are transmitted to Mini Dublin groups via regional chairs.

Thematic debates are also held at the central level. Discussion topics should build on those identified by the mini and regional Dublin Group meetings as topical and input for topics should be solicited in the months leading up to the following central meeting.

At regional level, the chairs assess the situation in the region, and where appropriate, formulate orientations and take initiatives, where appropriate.

At local level, the Mini Dublin groups compile local situation reports that are sent to the regional chair, facilitate coordination of drug policy and assistance by donor countries, open dialogue with the host country on drug control, draw up recommendations and, where appropriate, implement orientations of the Central Dublin Group and from regional chairs. The mini-Dublin groups work together with the drug liaison officers and where necessary with other competent experts (e.g. the World Bank, UNDP).

• 6. 

  Central Dublin Group

• - 

  The Central Dublin Group meets twice a year. The Presidency will endeavour to organise the autumn meeting in the same week as the UNODC major donors' group meeting or on the

  margin of other international meetings.

• - 

  The chair rotates after four two years, is renewable once, and should alternate among between EU Members States and the other member states of the group.

• - 

  The agenda is drawn up by the chair in the light of reports and recommendations from the regional chairs and other participants of the group. An initial discussion of the agenda including the topic(s) of the thematic debate should take place at the closure of the previous meeting.

• - 

  Not later than one month after the meeting of the Central Dublin Group, the chair circulates a concise document containing agreed recommendations and conclusions.

• - 

  The Central Dublin Group through the regional chairs will inform the relevant Mini Dublin groups that it has endorsed their recommendations and will instruct the relevant Mini Dublin groups to encourage their host authorities to implement the agreed recommendations, as

  appropriate.

• - 

  The chair of the Central Dublin Group maintains appropriate contacts with the chair of the major donor group of UNODC. The respective chairs should attend, where possible, each other's meetings.

• - 

  The Central Dublin Group should identify countries and/or subregions and themes to streamline the activity and the reporting of the mini-Dublin groups of the regional chairs.

• - 

  The chair ensures that regional reports and agenda are sent out to the members at least one month before the Central Dublin Group meeting.

• - 

  The Chair of the Central Dublin Group shall draw up an annual report based on the annual regional reports. The reference period for the annual report is from January 1 to December 31 of the previous year. The annual report will be issued at the second biannual meeting.

• 7. 

  Regional Dublin groups and regional chairs

  • - 

    The Dublin Group is subdivided into regional groups, as shown in Annex 1. This annex is reviewed regularly. The central group decides on the creation of other regional and

    subregional groups.

  • - 

    A member can only chair one regional or subregional group.

  • - 

    The regional chair plays an important role in the operational structure of the Dublin Group. It has the following responsibilities:

    • = 

      establishment of Mini Dublin groups under the guidance of the Central Dublin Group;

    • = 

      coordinating the work of the Mini Dublin groups and monitoring sub-regional cooperation;

    • = 

      observation and analysis of the region and drawing up recommendations for Central Dublin Group consideration, where appropriate;

    • = 

      drawing up annual regional reports in accordance with Annex 2 and preparing recommendations for the Central Dublin Group on the basis of information from the Mini Dublin groups. The regional report covers the period of time from

      January 1 to December 31 of the two years before publication previous year and

      is sent to the Secretariat at least five weeks before the first bi-annual meeting of

      the Central Dublin Group. Subsequently the Secretariat will draw up a single note

      in which all proposed recommendations and conclusions are summarized. When

      possible and appropriate, reports should focus on specific issues, including

      regional assessments. State of implementation of recommendations should be part

      of the report of regional chairs to the subsequent meeting of the Central Dublin

      Group;

    • = 

      where appropriate, the regional chair can present a second report in the same year on the basis of new information from the Mini Dublin groups or other sources;

    • = 

      suggesting agenda items for the meeting of the Central Dublin Group; = informing the Mini Dublin groups on the results of proceedings in the Central Dublin Group and organising the implementation of measures at local level; = convening conferences of the regional Dublin Group as necessary.

• - 

  The regional chair changes every two years, with a one term renewable extension.

• 8. 

  Mini-Dublin Groups

  • - 

    The Mini Dublin groups should, as appropriate, monitor all aspects of the drug control situation in the host country, including the legal situation and the organization and

    facilities of the anti-drugs authorities, particularly in relation to national strategies, where these are in place. This also includes the assessment of the political will of the host country to conduct a comprehensive and resolute anti-drugs policy.

  • - 

    The regional chairs review regularly the activities of Mini Dublin groups.

  • - 

    In close cooperation with the UNODC field offices (if UNODC is present in the country), the Mini Dublin groups maintain a current inventory of existing and planned anti-drugs activities in order to enable identification of host-country needs and to avoid duplication.

  • - 

    The mini-Dublin groups conduct a dialogue with the host country, develop initiatives and pass on any proposals from the host country. When appropriate, officials of the host country can be invited to meetings of Mini Dublin groups, and the regional chair should decide upon their level of representation.

  • - 

    The chair is held by the Head of Mission of the country holding the regional chairmanship. The Mini Dublin groups hold regular meetings, at least twice a year. The meetings are prepared in cooperation with the UNODC field office if it exists. The chair draws up the minutes and informs the Dublin Group members not represented at the meeting. In case the regional chair is not represented and in other exceptional cases, an ad hoc solution has to be found based on the principle of mutual assistance.

  • - 

    The Mini Dublin groups compile annual country reports in accordance with Annex 3. The report covers the period of time from January 1 to December 31 of two years before publication.

  • - 

    The participants brief their authorities on the proceedings of the Mini Dublin groups, in particular on proposed measures, and seek the necessary instructions, if needed.

  • - 

    In case of difficult and fundamental questions, the regional chair informs the Central Dublin Group, which discusses the matter and, where appropriate, issues

    recommendations.

• 9. 

  Secretariat

  • - 

    The Secretariat ensures that the regional reports, which have the status of working documents, are sent before the meeting of the Central Dublin Group and arranges for the agenda to be sent out at least one month before the meeting.

  • - 

    The Secretariat drafts the report of the meeting after each Central Dublin Group meeting and disseminates it to the Dublin Group members.

• 10. 

  These guidelines will be applied as from the 1st of July... 2017.

ANNEX 1

Regions in the Dublin Group

• Africa

Subregions : Northern Africa

Western Africa

East Africa

Southern Africa

South East Africa - Mozambique

• Western Balkans

• Near East [including Turkey and Iraq]

• Iran

• Caribbean [including Surinam, Guyana, Belize]

• Central America/Mexico

• Eastern Europe and Caucasus

• Central Asia

• South America

• South East Asia and China

• South West Asia

ANNEX 2

Format for Reports from the Regional Dublin Groups

• 1. 

  Progress of work in the mini-Dublin groups

  • - 

    overview of the regional situation regarding illicit narcotics production

  • - 

    presentation of the national situation regarding illicit narcotics production, consumption and trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances, money-laundering and

    precursor control

  • - 

    summarizing the work of the mini-Dublin groups in the region

  • - 

    essential points to be followed up by the mini-Dublin groups

• 2. 

  Regional or sub-regional nature of problems

• 3. 

  Matters requiring treatment by the Dublin Group at the central level

• 4. 

  Place and date of meetings of mini-Dublin groups

• 5. 

  Regional group recommendations/conclusions with respect to:

  5.1. Political initiatives

  5.2. Donor community priorities in light of points 2 and 3 above

• 6. 

  Report on the implementation of recommendations/conclusions endorsed a year before.

ANNEX 3

Format for Country Reports from the mini-Dublin Groups

(to be drawn up in cooperation with the UNODC when a UNODC field Office exists in the country)

• 1. 

  General situation in the country

  Drugs situation in the host country including production, trafficking and demand related issues

• 2. 

  Short update on the country's anti-drugs strategy

  To include

  2.1. changes/additions to the CN institutional framework

  2.2. legal/legislative changes, including money laundering and chemical precursors

  2.3. an assessment of the government's political will to conduct a comprehensive and resolute anti-drugs policy

• 3. 

  Enumeration of major bilateral and multilateral CN programs (including those support demand reduction)

• 4. 

  Place and date of meetings of mini-Dublin groups

• 5. 

  Prioritized identification of needs for external assistance

• 6. 

  Mini-Dublin group assessment of needs

  6.1. emerging threats/trends

  6.2. political initiatives

  6.3. recommendations

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