There are a number of measures to be implemented in the field, such as the institutionalisation of the National Commission on the Abuse of Drugs, Alcohol and other Dependencies and the preparation of an activity-based budget for 2005, together with the introduction of the National Drugs Strategy. The strategy will be based on the recommendations of a report

prepared as a result of an agreement between Malta and the Dutch government, which officially ended yesterday.

The minister was, in fact, speaking at a press conference held at the Dutch ambassador’s residence in Ta' Xbiex, at which the end of the eight-month-long agreement was announced. “We hope this will not be the last of this sort of cooperation,” said Mrs Cristina. “The twinning project has provided us with know-how from Holland in the undertakings related to the development of a drug information network.”

The minister said that the drug information network is up and running and the people involved met two weeks ago to consider their output and see how to further develop the means through which data collection can be improved.

Dutch Ambassador Rienko Wilton congratulated the Maltese and Dutch team for their efforts, making special mention of Mr Rudd Bless who headed the delegation from Holland and Prof. Richard Muscat, head of the commission.

The National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction run by the commission was launched in June, shortly after several experts from Holland explained the requirements needed to collect data on drug indicators from a supply and demand viewpoint.

“In a very short time we have managed to put together the relevant drug-related data, but more importantly it is the first time that we have a representation from all related agencies and a better overall grounding regarding the figures relating to treatment,” said Minister Cristina.

She concluded by thanking all those involved in the process, adding that she hoped there would be further cooperation between the two countries in the future.