Countries Challenge EU Strategy
Italy, Greece and Romania are challenging the EU’s current approach to legislation by calling for an evidence-based approach, according to the World Vapers Alliance
-
by Dave Cross
Share on:
Italy, Greece and Romania are challenging the EU’s current approach to legislation by calling for an evidence-based approach, according to the World Vapers’ Alliance. The organisation says that Politico is reporting their stand against the EU’s current tobacco control strategy.
The World Vapers’ Alliance says: “Italy, supported by Greece and Romania, is taking a stand against the EU’s current tobacco control strategy, as reported by Politico. While a coalition of countries led by the Netherlands pushes for rushed revisions to EU tobacco legislation, Italy is calling for a balanced approach that includes proper impact assessments and proportional measures. This comes at a critical time when the EU’s current strategy is proving ineffective—at the current pace, the bloc will miss its smoke-free target by an astonishing 60 years.”
Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, stated: “The EU’s demonisation of nicotine alternatives like vaping is not only misguided but also counterproductive. Italy’s leadership in advocating for evidence-based regulation is exactly what Europe needs to reverse its failing trajectory. Europe needs risk-based regulation rather than ineffective bans and excessive tax hikes.”
Despite scientific evidence showing that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking, EU policymakers continue to push excessive regulations that discourage smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives.
Landl added: “If the EU truly wants to achieve its smoke-free goal, it must follow Italy’s lead and embrace harm reduction strategies. The EU risks locking itself into outdated policies that protect cigarettes rather than public health.”
With Greece and Romania backing Italy’s call for proportional regulation, there is renewed hope for policies that prioritise innovation and consumer choice. The EU must seize this opportunity to listen to harm reduction advocates and avoid further delays in achieving its smoke-free aspirations.
Michael Landl is the director of the World Vapers’ Alliance. He is from Austria and is based in Vienna. He is an experienced policy professional and a passionate vaper. He studied at the University of St. Gallen and worked for several public policy outlets and as well in the German Parliament.
The World Vapers' Alliance amplifies the voices of vapers around the world and empowers them to make a difference in their communities. Our members are vapers associations as well as individual vapers from all over the world. https://worldvapersalliance.com/
Critics of Italy, Greece and Romania’s stance say “Member states have unique national policy contexts, so that compromises at the EU level are inevitable—and worrying, particularly given the influence of tobacco industry at national level, particularly in Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic” - Tobacco control in Europe: progress and key challenges.
Photo Credit:
Photo by Alexey Larionov on Unsplash
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
