CHIRAC CALLS FOR EU TO HARMONISE ANTI-DRUG LAWS

LISBON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac, warning
that illegal drug use in Europe was reaching dramatic levels, urged
European Union members on Thursday to agree common laws to help fight
the problem.

"It is not acceptable that European laws in this area are not
harmonised," he said during a visit to the European Monitoring Centre
for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon.

Although Chirac did not point the finger at any of France's EU
partners, Paris has been critical in the past of the more liberal
stance on drug-taking adopted by countries such as the
Netherlands.

"Europe must be aware of the severity of the problem," he said, adding
that the EU must dedicate sufficient resources and effort to fighting
"this drama."

The Monitoring Centre was set up in 1995 with the aim of gathering
information on drug abuse across Europe.

Chirac, who arrived in Portugal on Thursday for a 48-hour visit, said
the Centre was playing a vital role in building up the knowledge
needed to fight the problem effectively.