The European Commission announced an overhaul of the EU rules to fight illicit drugs, particularly new psychoactive substances, which imitate the effects of dangerous drugs like ecstasy or cocaine and are a growing problem. The EU identified a record number of 41 such substances in 2010, up from 24 the previous year.

The Commission announced that over the coming months, the Commission will develop clearer and stronger rules on tackling dangerous new drugs and trafficking – both of illicit drugs and chemicals used to make them. The rules would be strengthen to include new psychoactive substances, which imitate the effects of dangerous drugs like ecstasy or cocaine and are a growing problem.

Within the Commission's plans, it is included measures such as an stronger EU legislation on new psychoactive substances so that the EU can provide a faster response, including the possibility of temporary bans, as well as tackling their sale over the internet; new EU legislation to target cross-border trafficking in drugs by means of criminal law: the Commission will improve the definition of offences and sanctions and introduce stronger reporting obligations for Member States; new EU laws to strengthen control over chemicals used for drugs production; more effective rules to deprive drug traffickers of their financial gains: in the coming weeks, the Commission will propose rules on the confiscation and recovery of assets involved in serious crime, including drug trafficking; more cooperation at international level, especially with transit and producing countries outside the EU, as well as with countries considered as major entry points for drugs in Europe. The Commission already called for an stronger international action at the G8 meeting celebrated in April 2011.

The reform is a priority for the Commission, especially when a recent Eurobarometer survey indicates that new synthetic drugs, which can be just as dangerous as banned substances, are increasingly popular with 5% of young Europeans saying they have used them. The survey reveals that across all 27 EU Member States, a large majority of 15 to 24-year-olds are in favour of banning these substances.