Since the objective of this Directive, namely to extend the application of the Union criminal law provisions that apply to illicit drug trafficking to new psychoactive substances posing severe public health risks and, where applicable, severe social risks, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States acting alone, but can rather be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
Ós rud é nach féidir leis na Ballstáit ag gníomhú dóibh ina n-aonar cuspóir na Treorach seo, eadhon cur i bhfeidhm fhorálacha dhlí coiriúil an Aontais a bhfuil feidhm leo maidir le gáinneáil aindleathach ar dhrugaí a leathnú le go gcumhdófaí freisin substaintí sícighníomhacha nua lena ngabhann rioscaí tromchúiseacha don tsláinte phoiblí agus, i gcás inarb infheidhme, lena ngabhann rioscaí tromchúiseacha sóisialta, a ghnóthú go leordhóthanach, agus gur fearr is féidir é a ghnóthú ar leibhéal an Aontais, féadfaidh an tAontas bearta a ghlacadh, i gcomhréir le prionsabal na coimhdeachta a leagtar amach in Airteagal 5 den Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach (CAE).