PLAN DEPENDS ON EU-WIDE SUPPORT

TONY BLAIR is going to need the unqualfied support of all the other EU
member states if his plan to introduce minimum drug sentences across Europe
are to come to fruition.

Unlike most other EU business, issues of crime and justice remain the
preserve of governments alone, with the European Commission possessing no
official policy role. Part of the justice and home affairs "pillar" of the
Maastricht treaty, any new agreements require the unanimous backing of all
member states and are most likely to take the nonlegally binding form of a
"commitment to joint action".

However, since the Maastricht treaty was signed in 1992 a number of formal
committees have been established to help to develop policy in this area. Mr
Blair's idea is most likely to be floated at the next justice and home
affairs ministerial meeting in Brussels at the end of this month. The
secretive Article 36 Committee - a group of senior home affairs policy
officials - would then be charged with solving any technical problems. A
newly created police officers' task force from across Europe is also likely
to be consulted for their views on minimum drug sentences.

British government sources were adamant yesterday that Mr Blair will
proceed only if he wins widespread support for the minimum sentence idea
and that he has no intention of trying to change the existing justice and
home affairs framework if the plan meets resistance.

Although Mr Blair has said he would also like to persuade EU applicant
countries in Eastern Europe to adopt minimum sentencing, officials were
insistent this will not become a new hurdle for entry into the European
Union.