MEPs welcome EU anti-tobacco drive

EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou’s plans aimed at encouraging people to stub out the killer weed were today welcomed by MEPs and business.

Kyprianou will formally launch an email ‘coaching service’ - the commission’s new anti-smoking campaign - on 31 May which has been designated World No Tobacco Day.

The service is designed to offer support to smokers to kick their habit and follows a recent Eurobarometer poll on Europeans' attitudes towards tobacco.

The survey revealed that one in three smokers have tried to give up in the last 12 months but that more than 70 per cent of them have relapsed in less than two months.

Centre-right MEP John Bowis, who has campaigned on several health issues, was among those who welcomed the commission's initiative.

He said the campaign, part of the executive's green paper on promoting smoke-free environments, carried an “important” public health message.

“I welcome anything which might encourage people, particularly youngsters, to stop smoking,” he said.

But he took issue with Kyprianou, who favours an EU-wide “comprehensive and complete” smoking ban.

The UK deputy, a prominent member of parliament’s environment and public health committee, said that when it comes to restricting smoking in public places each member state should be allowed to legislate without interference from Brussels.

“When it comes to public health, this should be the way forward, not EU harmonisation,” he said.

The anti-smoking campaign was also welcomed by Pfizer, the world’s leading life sciences company, which has called for a total ban on smoking in public places.

“There is a tremendous urgency for member states to introduce a comprehensive set of policies aimed at protecting their citizens by reducing tobacco use and preventing tobacco-related diseases,” said Jack Watters, the company’s vice president of international medical affairs.

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