BILATERAL COOPERATION
Office for Combating Drugs Abuse of the Government of the Republic of Croatia has established bilateral cooperation with a number of countries with which the possibility of joint project planning is being considered. In addition to cooperation with the countries in the region, the establishment of full cooperation with the UK, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Russian Federation and Israel is considered particularly important. Consultations regarding the establishment of cooperation with the competent authorities of China are currently in progress.
22 October 2009
Official visit to Israel
On 21 and 22 October 2009 the delegation of the Office for Combating Drugs Abuse of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, at the invitation of the Director-General of Israel Anti-Drug Authority (IADA), was on an official visit to the Israeli institutions responsible for implementation of activities in the field of combating drug abuse. On the first day the Director-General of IADA, Mr. Yair Geller, made an introductory presentation of the organizational, operational and coordinative role of IADA at national and local level.
As a central body responsible for coordinating activities of relevant ministries, offices and non-governmental organizations IADA was established in 1988, and in 2005 IADA's mandate was enlarged to include the fight against alcohol abuse. IADA's key activities include promoting public awareness of problems related to drugs, sponsoring research on the extent and consequences of drug abuse, evaluation of activities of all authorities, education of professional staff involved in some segment of combating drug abuse and encouraging local community activities.
COOPERATION IN THE REGION
ICG
In November 2003 the Office for Combating Drugs Abuse of the Government of the Republic of Croatia (OCDA) organized a regional conference at which national drug coordinators from the ten countries of South Eastern Europe gathered for the first time to identify the main problems in the region and find common solutions.
Following the conclusions of the conference, an initiative named Informal Coordination Group (ICG) was launched whose main purpose was to exchange knowledge and experience, harmonization of national legislations for effective implementation of operational measures, to assist in addressing specific issues, organization of regional training / seminars and joint projects with the aim of improving the situation in the region.
By 2006 the initiative operated on an informal basis, most of the time under the leadership of the Republic of Croatia. However, due to the passivity of certain countries which at that period should have coordinated its work, it was concluded that the initiative cannot survive in the informal form. Therefore, on the proposal of the European Commission and with support from the countries of South Eastern Europe, Croatia was in charge of making the structure and scope of regional organization in the field of drugs, with special emphasis on drug demand reduction, in order to avoid overlap with existing initiatives / organizations / programs.
SEEDC
Subsequently, the OCDA has developed the concept of regional initiative to enhance cooperation among the countries of South Eastern Europe, the so-called South East European Drugs Cooperation (SEEDC), through the establishment of regional office as a mechanism for sharing knowledge, information and good practice examples, which will specifically deal with all aspects of drug demand reduction and monitoring the situation in the region.
At the Regional Conference of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), held in Belgrade on 30 and 31 March 2009, the above mentioned initiative was officially listed in the UNODC Regional Programme for Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in South Eastern Europe (2009-2011).
Forum
