K
KulrMeStoopid
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Elvapote https://www.facebook.com/asso.elvapote
about an hour ago
TPD : the European Parliament had voted against medical regulation for ecigs on 8th October. That vote seems now threatened.
Letter from Frédérique Ries, MEP, answering a support message from a French vaper, published on forum-ecigarette.com :
Dear Sir,
I'll take a brief moment to answer your question, in between voting during the Environment commission and a meeting about scientific research.
Thank you for taking some time to write to me. I can assure you that all the support I get on that question really helps, and has been helping me since we started our work on that Directive a year ago.
After being for a long time the only one to fight for another classification for ecigs, I have been able to convince a majority of my colleagues from the European Parliament. Today it is not only Frédérique Ries, not only the Liberals, it is the European Parliament as a whole that rejects the "pharma route" proposed by the Commission.
And you know what ? I am not convinced it will be enough ! Negociations are in the Trilogue phase right now. I'll spare you the institutional jargon, that means that the text, after going through Health commission, then Plenary, is now being reviewed by 3 small delegations : one for the Commission, one for the E. Parliament (the 6 reporters of the text, including myself), and one for the EU Presidency, i.e. currently Lithuania.
The second Trilogue took place last Tuesday, almost exclusively about article 18, i.e. the electronic cigarette. I came out of it appalled.
The Lithuanian presidency, who supposedly talks in the name of the 27 other Health Ministers, is in an absolute blocking attitude, a resounding rejection, almost despise for anything but the medicine classification. According to the presidency, not one state member wishes anything else. I cannot repeat the words of the ambassador, we are bound to discretion until the final agreement is signed. Just maybe give you my feeling : I do not think Council yet realises that, for the European Parliament I represent here on that issue, it really is a red line. The commission, on the other hand, seems ready to negotiate an agreement.
I wait and see.
Churchill used to say the worst is not certain. What is certain however, is that the ministers are in complete "lag" and are making more than an error, a major mistake, by holding back the only true safer alternative to tobacco. And they do that in the name of the fight against tobacco, unbelievable ! I have trouble understanding how they can be so deaf to what millions of vapers citizens say, as well as scientific experts.
Next Trilogue december 3rd. I'll keep you posted.
Frédérique RIES,
Member of the European Parliament
about an hour ago
TPD : the European Parliament had voted against medical regulation for ecigs on 8th October. That vote seems now threatened.
Letter from Frédérique Ries, MEP, answering a support message from a French vaper, published on forum-ecigarette.com :
Dear Sir,
I'll take a brief moment to answer your question, in between voting during the Environment commission and a meeting about scientific research.
Thank you for taking some time to write to me. I can assure you that all the support I get on that question really helps, and has been helping me since we started our work on that Directive a year ago.
After being for a long time the only one to fight for another classification for ecigs, I have been able to convince a majority of my colleagues from the European Parliament. Today it is not only Frédérique Ries, not only the Liberals, it is the European Parliament as a whole that rejects the "pharma route" proposed by the Commission.
And you know what ? I am not convinced it will be enough ! Negociations are in the Trilogue phase right now. I'll spare you the institutional jargon, that means that the text, after going through Health commission, then Plenary, is now being reviewed by 3 small delegations : one for the Commission, one for the E. Parliament (the 6 reporters of the text, including myself), and one for the EU Presidency, i.e. currently Lithuania.
The second Trilogue took place last Tuesday, almost exclusively about article 18, i.e. the electronic cigarette. I came out of it appalled.
The Lithuanian presidency, who supposedly talks in the name of the 27 other Health Ministers, is in an absolute blocking attitude, a resounding rejection, almost despise for anything but the medicine classification. According to the presidency, not one state member wishes anything else. I cannot repeat the words of the ambassador, we are bound to discretion until the final agreement is signed. Just maybe give you my feeling : I do not think Council yet realises that, for the European Parliament I represent here on that issue, it really is a red line. The commission, on the other hand, seems ready to negotiate an agreement.
I wait and see.
Churchill used to say the worst is not certain. What is certain however, is that the ministers are in complete "lag" and are making more than an error, a major mistake, by holding back the only true safer alternative to tobacco. And they do that in the name of the fight against tobacco, unbelievable ! I have trouble understanding how they can be so deaf to what millions of vapers citizens say, as well as scientific experts.
Next Trilogue december 3rd. I'll keep you posted.
Frédérique RIES,
Member of the European Parliament