Community agencies: partners in accession Cooperation with EMCDDA - Polish experience Boguslawa Bukowska, National Bureau for Drug Prevention , Sintra

Polish road to accession Process for accession started in mid- 1990s Phare 1994, 1996, 1998 Multi-beneficiary Program on Drug Information System, , coordinated by EMCDDA Phare 2000, Phare 2003 – major instrument of pre-accession assistance

Main objectives Improvement of public health and security Strenghtening the institutional and administrative capacity at the national, regional and local level in order to improve the implementation of the EU drug acquis and develop administrative structure

When we start…… In the beginning the idea of joining the EU – rather distant and abstract Objectives - imprecise Insufficient knowledge on expectations and standards to be achieved Red tape formalities Bumpy road

EMCDDA as crucial partner Political support Informal influence Professional support Know-how, standards, procedures Drawing on experience and achievements of beneficiary country Partnership Friendly, patient, open-minded team

What should be attained? Development of Drug Information System and Focal Point Setting up interministerial Council for Counteracting Drug Addiction Strenghtening the mechanisms of interministerial cooperation Establishing Early Warning System Development of civil society

Supportive factors Pressure of EU EMCDDA support Participation in many workshops and conferences to support the process Presenting results of monitoring to policy makers Realistic approach to create new structures Creating useful instruments to meet acquis communautaire – twinning project and technical assistance

What is twinning? A cooperation tool between a BC Public Administration and the equivalent MS institution It aims at upgrading the BC institution through training, reorganisation as well as drafting of laws and regulations It consists of sending public officials from MS to BC

Twinning – useful instrument Provides unique opportunity: To transfer of know how and best practices from EU Member States and European Agencies to strengthen human resources of BC to strengthen internal mechanisms of cooperation to build up international network of information exchange

Support of twinning partners - external factors of progress Sensitivity to cultural differences Drawing on experience, knowledge and competence of BC Avoiding mechanical transfer of solutions from the MS to BC Partnership Readiness to provide political support

Internal supportive factors – useful assumptions External experts may support the change process; however, they will not do implement changes for beneficiary country Strategy of cooperation building Using existing resources Welcoming participation of stakeholders and their involvement, avoiding exclusion and competition Sustainability of results Building management structures – the role of PL and cooperation with decision makers

Technical Assistance Very useful when there is a relevant technical gap in the level of development of the Beneficiary institution Development of software Purchase of hardware Purchase of transport vehicles

Benchmarks Adjusting legislation to EU requirements Legal grounds for Council for Couneracting Drug Addiction and Focal Point Development of institutional structure Strengthening human resources at national, regional and local level

Challenges … Gap between operational engagement and policy makers Shortening timeline between designing a project fiche, its approval by EC and the implementation Ensuring adequate co-financing as a factor contributing to the optimal effects of the twinning. BC cofinancing with human resources, office space, training/ conference venues and interpretation etc. More practical information in manual for BC

Added value Implementing legislative solutions in favour of counteracting drug addiction Strengthening the material infrustructure of BC institutions Valuable human relationship

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