Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

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Memorandum of Understanding between

the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova

and the

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, hereinafter referred to as the ‘EMCDDA’, based on Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 (recast), O.J. L 376/1 of 27 December 2006 — hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’,

Recalling the framework established by the European Neighbourhood Policy and particularlythe EU-RM Action Plan on visa regime liberalisation, endorsed by the Council on 16 December 2010and presented to the Moldovan authorities on 24 January 2011.

Being guided by the principles and aims of existing multilateral international agreements on drug control,

Expressing their wish to develop a framework of mutual cooperation in the field of information on prevention and responses to illicit drugs use, in line with international and EU standards,

Recognising that information on the drugs phenomenon is an essential and indispensable instrument for the drafting and implementation of drug policies and for the assessment of the impact of actions to reduce the problems originating from drug use and trafficking,

Expressing their interest in sharing experience and knowledge of methodologies aiming to develop and harmonise indicators of the drug situation, as well as develop an information system,

Having regard that in the Republic of Moldova the competent authority to centralise the analysis of non-confidential data on illicit drug consumption and trafficking is the National Drug Observatory (NDO) from the National Centre for Health Management,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Objective

To set up cooperation relations between the Parties in order to collect, process and disseminate information on drugs, to further develop common methods for monitoring illicit drug consumption and related problems as well as drug supply,including drug trafficking, with the aim of elaborating and improving joint indicators for drug situation and response monitoring and evaluation systems.

2. Responsibilities of the Parties

Within their respective legal frameworks, the Parties shall invite each other to attend meetings convened under their respective auspices on occasions when they consider subjects of mutual interest will be discussed.

In particular, the NDO will elaborate and present to the EMCDDA an annual report and analytical notes on the drug situation in the Republic of Moldova.

In particular, the EMCDDA will facilitate training and the exchange of experts and results of scientific research on the problems of illicit drug trafficking and on monitoring the drug situation as well as on other issues of mutual interest.

The Parties will establish a regular exchange of information on new types of drugs and psychotropic substances that appear on the illegal drug market, the technologies of their production and their use.

The Parties will not divulge information or documents received from the other Party without the preliminary consent of the Party that provided the information.

The EMCDDA and the NDO will each designate a contact person for maintaining continued dialogue with a view to ensuring full implementation of the provisions of the present Memorandum of Understanding.

Final Provisions

The Parties have reached a mutual understanding that the present Memorandum of Understanding does not represent an international treaty and does not produce legally binding effects. Practical implementation of its content shall not be regarded as fulfillment of international obligations by the Union and its institutions.

This Memorandum will become effective after signature by both Parties and is enacted for an initial period of five (5) years.

Should neither of the Parties notify the other of its intention to terminate the Memorandum, its validity shall be renewed for a further five (5) years.

The Memorandum shall cease to be in force six (6) months after the date of receiving such a notification.

All disputes concerning interpretation and implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum will be settled by means of negotiations and consultations between the Parties.

This Memorandum of Understanding is produced in two original copies in English and Moldovan languages, both being authentic.

In case of divergence in interpretation of the provisions of the present Memorandum, the English text shall be of reference.

Place of signing: Chisinau on 17 July 2012

SIGNED BY:

For the Ministry of Health

of the Republic of Moldova

Dr Andrei Usatîi

Minister of Health

For the European Monitoring Centre

for Drugs and Drug Addiction

Wolfgang Götz

Director