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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2911(RSP))

On the Council’s recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments

B-10-2024-0177

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Pietro Fiocchi, Ruggero Razza, Emmanouil Fragkos, Laurence Trochu, Michele Picaro

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This resolution responds to the Commission's proposal for a Council recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments. It supports the goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2040 but criticizes the proposal for lacking scientific evidence and differentiation between traditional and new products. It calls for harm-reduction policies based on scientific evidence, protection of children and pregnant women, and evaluation of bans' impacts on the HORECA sector and SMEs. It requests risk assessments for new products, financial support for smoke-free areas, and a Commission report after four years.

Key points

  1. Reiterates support for the tobacco-free generation goal and stresses the need to achieve it by 2040.
  2. Underlines that policies should follow harm reduction, based on scientific evidence and proportionality, and that new products may help smokers quit.
  3. Welcomes Member States that have adopted harm-reduction policies and are on track to achieve the 2040 target early.
  4. Stresses that all people should be protected from undesired smoke and aerosols, including outdoors, and that children and pregnant women should be particularly protected.
  5. Considers that responsible adults should be allowed to use legally placed products, and that citizens should be able to request change without lawmakers intervening.
  6. Expresses concern about the broad scope and lack of proportionality of a general ban on outdoor smoking, as proposed by the Commission.
  7. Regrets lack of evaluation of the 2009 Council Recommendation and lack of updated impact assessment.
  8. Regrets that the proposal does not differentiate between traditional and new products and lacks scientific evidence.
  9. Regrets lack of impact assessment on economic sectors, especially tourism and HORECA.
  10. Calls on Council and Member States to introduce harm-reduction approach based on scientific evidence, and to evaluate bans before adopting them.
  11. Calls for urgent risk assessments of new products and further studies on flavouring chemicals.
  12. Invites Member States to consider financial support for HORECA stakeholders designating smoke-free areas, and calls on Commission to fund smoking reduction programmes.

Who is affected

  • Member States: called on to adopt harm-reduction policies and evaluate bans.
  • HORECA sector and SMEs: impact of measures to be evaluated; possible financial support for smoke-free areas.
  • Smokers: encouraged to quit or use reduced-risk alternatives.
  • Children and pregnant women: to be particularly protected from second-hand smoke.

Figures and deadlines

  • 700 000 people die each year in the EU from cancers attributed to smoking.
  • Goal of less than 5% tobacco use by 2040, compared to around 24% today.
  • Over 60% of EU companies view regulation as an obstacle to investment; 55% of SMEs identify regulatory obstacles as greatest challenges.
  • Tourism employs approximately 11.4 million people, contributes around 4.5% to EU gross value added, and comprises over 2.4 million companies, 99% SMEs.
  • 36% of Eurobarometer respondents used e-cigarettes to quit or reduce smoking, a 56% increase.
  • 74% experienced smoking on outdoor terraces; 71% experienced e-cigarette use there.
  • EUR 16 million direct grant from EU4Health; EUR 80 million from Horizon Europe for addiction prevention.

Legal basis: Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union