Key dates
1989
European Committee to Combat Drugs
Creation of the European Committee to Combat Drugs (CELAD) composed of the national drug coordinators of the EU countries.
Dec. 1990
European Plan
First European Plan to combat drugs.
7 Feb. 1992
Maastricht Treaty and drug policy
The Maastricht Treaty refers for the first time to drug policy measures.
8 Feb. 1993
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Creation of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
Dec. 1996
Community Action on Drug prevention
First programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence (1996-2000).
16 June 1997
Information on new drugs
Joint Action
on the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new synthetic drugs.
Dec.1999
EU Drugs Strategy
Adoption by the European Council in Helsinki of the EU Drugs Strategy (2000-2004) 
[133 KB]
25 Oct. 2004
Illicit drug trafficking
Council Framework Decision [47 KB] laying down minimum penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking.
10 May 2004
Information on new substances
Decision [59 KB] on information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances.
July 2005
EU Drugs Action Plan
Endorsement by the Council of the EU Drugs Action Plan (2005-2008) [158 KB] .
26 June 2006
Green paper and Civil Society Forum on Drugs
Presentation of the Commission Green Paper [162 KB] on the role of civil society in Drug Policy in Europe. Based on the results of its open consultation, the Civil Society Forum on Drugs was created.
25 Sept. 2007
Drug Prevention
Adoption of the Drug Prevention and Information funding programme (2007-2013) [61 KB] .