EU drug agency chief hails Turkey’s efforts in combating drug trafficking

He stressed that the amount of heroin seized in Turkey is higher than the whole quantity seized in all EU member states. The drug agency’s latest report, released last week in Brussels, reported that in Europe as a whole, an estimated 58,000 seizures resulted in the interception of 22 tons of heroin in 2007, with Turkey reporting the greatest quantity seized with 13.2 tons.

For herbal cannabis, the total quantity seized in 2007 amounted to 96 tons, with one quarter of that confiscated in Turkey (25.5 tons). The seizure of cannabis resin also increased in Turkey, from 2,656 kilograms in 2006 to 6,302 in 2007. “It is important for the EU that Turkey plays an active role [in preventing drug trafficking],” Götz added.

Götz further stated that he does not understand why it is taking so long for the Turkish Parliament to ratify the formal EMCDDA membership agreement inked two years ago by the EU and the Turkish government. “This is the reason Turkey is not a full member of the EMCDDA yet,” he noted. Götz said that once the Turkish Parliament ratifies the treaty, Turkey, being a candidate country to the EU, will be like Norway, which also is not a member of the bloc but fully participates in EU drug agency proceedings.

Turkey first applied to be a member of the EMCDDA in October 2000 and after an evaluation period, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement on Oct. 30, 2007. Though the agreement was ratified by the European Parliament and given consent by the European Council, the Turkish Parliament has yet to officially ratify the treaty.

Asked if he has any idea why it is taking so long for approval in the Turkish Parliament, Götz said, “I frankly do not know,” adding, however, that the agreement is important for Turkey and will be a beneficial focal point for Turkey’s national drug agency. “Turkey will enter into the EU system as a partner, just like Norway,” he said.

The only difference from the 27 EU member states, however, is that Turkey will not have a right to vote in board meetings. “This is not a problem because the management rarely votes,” Götz underlined. “They will participate in everything including management board meetings,” he added.

Once Turkey becomes a full member of the drug agency, Turkish nationals could apply for jobs at the agency. Turkish scientists or companies would also be allowed to compete in tenders when the agency calls for them.

After becoming a member, Turkey will be required to provide funds to the agency. As per the special agreement with candidate countries, Turkey is expected to contribute funds to the agency, starting with 731,000 euros of financing in the first four years of its membership. Norway pays about 450,000 euros per year to the agency. Turkey is expected to pay 100,000 euros for the first year. A smaller contribution is required from candidate countries.

“I know Turkey is a full member in the environment agency where participation is not the same amount for each country. It depends on the size of the population. Turkey pays much more money to this agency than it would have paid to us,” Götz said. In any case, Turkey will not benefit from the co-financing option currently only available to member states. That allows member states to get matching funds from the EU on projects such as drug enforcement and combat projects.

‘I am optimistic’

The EU drug agency head expressed his optimism about Turkey and said he is very much looking forward to working with Turkish partners in drug monitoring activities. “It is a situation in which we have to stay together and continue working in this area,” he said, adding that the agency has already assisted its Turkish partner TUBİM, the Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, an interagency body charged with coordinating and developing national drug and drug treatment policies, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Turkish International Academy against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC).

When Turkey becomes a full member of EMCDDA, the annual report will include further details on Turkey. “What happens is that Turkey will have a formally established central point in Turkey. In our reporting you will find much more information on Turkey than you find now,” he said.

Götz lamented the fact that collecting data is not easy when it comes to Turkey. “It is difficult to get a full picture of the Turkish situation,” he said, pointing out the differences in data collection systems. “I think this is a normal. This is a development we have to work on together,” he said.

Turkey scored low on the drug treatment side in the agency’s report. It says treatment is very much concentrated in big urban cities and availability is not the same as in EU member states. “Also there is no really clear information on what is happening in the private sector as we simply do not have data on it,” Götz noted.

The central agency in Turkey, TUBİM, is working under the authority of the Interior Ministry. In most EU member states, however, agencies are established under the Health Ministry. “It was a bit of a shock initially to have the agency under the police department,” Götz said, signaling that the country weighs more on the supply side with law enforcement methods than on the demand side. “The most important point is that the agency has to be as competent and mobile as possible. We know it has to work in a national context,” Götz argued, stressing that each country has to find a structure for its agencies that best fits its national circumstances.