A challenge and a necessity, a logical consequence and follow up, were the key words said during the General Evaluation and Update Seminar (GEUS) held in Poina Brasov, Romania in February 2004, when the idea to establish an European Network Drugs-expertise (abbreviated as END) was presented. The idea was brought up by the Dutch National Network Drugs-expertise (NND) of which by coincidence Andre Elissen is one of the founders and chairman.

It was recognised that _Sharing knowledge means power_ and an adequate way to ensure this for the future could be to set up a European Network for Drugs-expertise (END) taking into account the model that exists already in the Netherlands was one of the recommendations of the GEUS.

Some of the participants filled out the END questionnaire on the spot and others did sent it by e-mail to the NND secretariat, emphasizing their interest to join such a network and also offering their assistance in setting up a network of this kind. Some Member States like Belgium, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands as well as the majority of the Central and Eastern European countries (former candidate and PSDII countries) as well as the European Institute for Law Enforcement Co-operation offered already their support and assistance to the END.

Sharing of knowledge, best practices, expertise, new trends and developments in the area of drugs will be the most important objective of such a network. The genuine network of PSDII together with other EU Member States provides a good platform and start for this European Network. First steps to establish the END were discussed and agreed within the PSDII Consortium. All Consortium Members offered their support. In fact we concluded that the END is more or less a continuation and a further extension of the created PSD (family) network.

Another recommendation made during the GEUS was the continuation of the PSD II Website and Bulletin. They were evaluated as indispensable means. For the website we found a solution. The Dutch NND volunteered to maintain and adopt the website. The PSD materials and functions will remain intact and the website will be used to facilitate the establishment of the END. Currently the PSDII website is under reconstruction and extra functions will be integrated. One of the functionalities will be the so called _Forum_, which gives the opportunity to raise questions or to share in a quick way information on new developments or trends. Those who already received their username and passwords during the PSDII project can use this to go directly to the secured (DOCSYS) part of the website. We expect that the renewed website will be ready by the end of this year.

You will be informed and updated via the website, which is for the moment still accessible via www.psdproject.org. Also for questions or to download the END Registration Form, you can visit the website. Of course the further establishment and development of the END requires a lot of communication with all people and institutions that could be or should be involved, such as Europol, Eurocustoms, the EMCDDA, the European Police Learning Network (EPLN) and others. We’ll try to explore the possibilities but feel free at any time to contact me or the Dutch NND co-ordination desk:

Mr. Johan Warmerdam	telephone: +31 79 345 99 37	e-mail: johan.warmerdam@klpd.politie.nl
Mr. Klaas Valk	telephone: +31 79 345 92 58	e-mail: klaas.valk@klpd.politie.nl

Of course via the website you can contact us as well.

As I already stated in my introduction of the final PSD II bulletin, I truly hope that you will all become members of the END, which should be seen as a logical follow up and an extension of the PSD II Family, united and working with a shared responsibility, continuously looking for sharing of best practices, expertise, harmonisation and improvement at European level. On behalf of the Dutch NND and the PSD II Project, we look forward to co-operate and to meet you again.

Andre Elissen

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