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Drugs
Important progress was made in the fight against drugs with the adoption of the National Anti-Drugs Strategy in February 2003, covering the period 2003-2008. The Strategy is in line with the EU Drug Strategy 2000-2004. Furthermore, in April 2003 an Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy was adopted. The Action Plan specifies concrete measures and tasks for the implementation of the strategic objectives and tasks defined in the Strategy as well as the responsible agencies. It will be reviewed an updated annually in the Strategy and the implementation will be coordinated by the National Drugs Council.
As regards the establishment of a National Focal Point in compliance with the requirements of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the National Drugs Council adopted a Decision (in December 2002) according to which the National Focal Point will be established at the National Drug Addiction Center within the Ministry of Health. Further efforts have been made to strengthen the law enforcement side with the adoption in February 2003 of an amendment to the Ministry of the Interior Act. This provides for an extension of the powers in the field of undercover operations and controlled deliveries for the officers of National Service to Combat Organized Crime.
Furthermore, amendments to the Penal Procedures Code have been adopted in May 2003 introducing provisions permitting the interrogation of undercover officers as witnesses in a criminal case while ensuring that the personal identity is kept secret. Furthermore, Bulgaria signed the 1995 Council of Europe Agreement on illicit traffic by sea, implementing Article 17 of the UN Convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in May 2003. Finally, with the amendment to the Control of Narcotic Substances and Precursors Act adopted in May 2003, Bulgaria introduced stricter rules on business licenses for legal entities engaging in retail or wholesale trade in narcotic substances and precursors.
The adoption of the National Drugs Strategy and the adoption of its Action Plan are an important step in implementing an overall drug policy. The implementation of the Strategy in 2003 is ensured through the budgets of various agencies involved.
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