Szijjarto: Drug liberalisation 'serious threat to European societies'

The social and health consequences of rising drug use pose a serious challenge to Europe and are further aggravated by the failure of the international military campaign in Afghanistan and the liberalisation of drug policies in certain countries, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in Paris on Thursday. Policies promoting the legalisation or liberalisation of drug use by "some liberal European governments" pose a threat to the health of societies and increase demand for drugs, which in turn increases organised crime, Szijjarto told a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Pompidou Group, the Council of Europe's drug policy cooperation platform.