The number of smokers has been decreasing, but a third of Europeans still smoke. Many cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are linked to tobacco use. It is the largest avoidable health risk in Europe, causing more problems than alcohol, drugs, high blood pressure, excess weight or high cholesterol.
Every year in the EU, as many as 650 000 Europeans die prematurely of tobacco-related causes – more than the populations of Malta or Luxembourg (WHO source). It is estimated that, in terms of negative economic impact, smoking costs the EU countries at least €100 billion.
EU tobacco control
This is based on 2 laws:
Implementation
The Commission meets regularly with national governments in a special committee to discuss tobacco control and ensure tobacco laws are kept up to date and implemented effectively.
Meetings of the EU committee for tobacco control
Helping people give up (or never start)
On 16 June 2011, the Commission launched a new campaign, Ex-smokers are Unstoppable , to encourage young adults in the 25 to 34 age group to stop smoking. The campaign shifts the focus from the dangers of smoking to the advantages of quitting, using ex-smokers and their achievements as inspiring role models. An innovative tool, the iCoach, is notably offered to help smokers to quit smoking.
The previous campaign, "HELP – For a life without tobacco ", which ran from 2005 to 2010, was focused on smoking prevention, smoking cessation, and passive smoking, targeting young Europeans between 15 and 25 years of age.
Taxes and other measures to curb tobacco use
Public health policies are not the only way of tackling tobacco use:
- High taxes on tobacco products are extremely effective in reducing tobacco use, with a particularly big impact on young people. The recent Directive 2010/12/EU on excise duty on tobacco amends the structure and rates of duty with public health goals in mind.
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The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigates illegal tobacco trading. Illegal traders deprive governments of massive tax revenues, undercut honest traders – and are able to sell more cheaply, making tobacco products more affordable. Negotiations are now underway for an agreement on illicit tobacco trading under the WHO framework convention on tobacco control.
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Tobacco subsidies were once an important but controversial part of the EU's agricultural policy. In the interest of public health, direct tobacco subsidies have now been phased out.
