Precursors, pillars and polity: examining the European Union’s combating of synthetic drugs through chemical precursor control

TL;DRAbstract

The European Union (EU) is a major producer of synthetic drugs, namely amphetamine and ecstasy, with critical precursor chemicals sourced in China and Russia. This study examines the EU’s combating of synthetic drugs through international chemical precursor control, a trade-based drug supply-reduction mechanism requiring both regulation and law enforcement investigation. With respective EU-level competencies currently divided between first and third pillars, analysis focuses on internal policy and coordination and the external dimension. Research is undertaken from an EU-level perspective, considering three principal aims: to update academic insight into the arguably under-researched area of precursor control; to enhance collective understanding of EU cross-pillar challenges and to assess EU capability in delivering against its synthetic drug priority in view of the current pillar regime and strategy, as yet unrealised Treaty of Lisbon 2007 reforms and a new EU-initiated United Nations

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