Abstract: Drug trafficking is no longer considered solely a social ill or a domestic issue, but is now presented as a matter of European security (1). In the European Union (EU) vast amounts of resources are spent on securing external and internal borders against illegal drugs and punishing those who break drug laws (2); however, research in the area is still, comparatively, in its infancy. Very little is known about the operation of drug markets or about state and non-state responses to drug markets and the effects of these. There remains a disconnect between theoretical models and regular data gathering that empirical research has so far been unable to bridge. Thus, the aim of this project was to reassess the ontological assumptions that have been underpinning drug market research and informing research choices to determine whether a more comprehensive and comparative approach might be more useful in the future

Abstract: Investing in prevention and improved control of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) will reduce premature death and preventable morbidity and disability, and improve the quality of life and well-being of people and societies. No less than 86% of deaths and 77% of the disease burden in the WHO European Region are caused by this broad group of disorders, which show an epidemiological distribution with great inequalities reflecting a social gradient, while they are linked by common risk factors, underlying determinants and opportunities for intervention. This document contains an action plan for implementation of the European Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. Taking account of Members States’ existing commitments, it focuses on priority action areas and interventions for the next five years (2012–2016) within a comprehensive and integrated framework. It has been developed through a consultative process, guided by the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee, and including meetings of NCD focal points and of the European Health Policy Forum for High-Level Government Officials. Its formulation has taken place against a backdrop of development of the new European health policy (Health 2020) and the Public Health Framework for Action, as well as the First Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Noncommunicable Disease Control (Moscow, April 2011) and the United Nations high-level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (New York, September 2011) and takes account of these processes.