Have recent evolutions in European governance brought harmonisation in the field of illicit drugs any closer?

With the long awaited ratification of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, it appears that plans within Europe to achieve an ‘ever closer union’ are back on track, yet, in the field of illicit drug policy, harmonisation

remains as elusive a goal as ever. Sweden and the Netherlands have long provided examples of the different

paradigms of drug policy operating within Europe and this article seeks to examine whether, as European Union

harmonisation moves forward, recent developments bring the two any closer to convergence on this contentious

issue. In addition to changes in Swedish and Dutch drug policy, the progress of the drug policy of other European

countries has been evaluated. The article concludes that the Swedes and the Dutch remain ultimately wedded

to their national policies and that movement both towards increased repression of drug use and increased

liberalisation of drug use can be observed among other European countries. Harmonisation of European drug

policy therefore remains in a state of stalemate