EPSCO Can Learn From Sweden’s Success
The European Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) should learn from Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece, says the World Vapers’ Alliance
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by Dave Cross
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The European Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) should learn from Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece, says the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA). The organisation sent an open letter to European health ministers ahead of the recent EPSCO Council meeting.
The World Vapers’ Alliance’s open letter to ministers discussed the future of tobacco and nicotine policy, urging the decision-makers to prioritise harm reduction and ensure adult smokers have access to safer alternatives such as vaping and nicotine pouches.
Countries like Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece are leading the way in harm reduction and provide a model for the rest of Europe, the WVA says. Sweden is on the verge of becoming the first smoke-free country in Europe, Greece has achieved a dramatic six percentage point drop in smoking prevalence, while Czechia has recorded a seven-percentage point reduction in smoking rates between the most recent Eurobarometer surveys.
Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, told Planet of the Vapes: “The relentless attacks on vaping and other nicotine products must stop. These products are the solution, not the problem. The evidence from Sweden, Czechia, and Greece is clear: embracing harm reduction saves lives and accelerates progress towards a smoke-free future. It’s time for every European country to follow these success stories.”
Alberto Gómez Hernández, Policy and Advocacy Manager for the WVA, added: “The evidence is overwhelming: harm reduction works. Sweden, Czechia, and Greece have shown this. These countries support safer nicotine products through harm reduction strategies and have succeeded. European leaders have a real chance to end smoking. The path is clear. Now policymakers must act.”
The open letter highlights the importance of evidence-based regulation and warns against policies that could inadvertently increase smoking rates by limiting adult access to vaping and other reduced-risk products. The WVA stresses that consumer choice, backed by robust science, is essential for achieving a smoke-free Europe.
More information on the success of Sweden, Greece and the Czech Republic in tackling smoking can be found here: https://worldvapersalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Champions-of-Change-Harm-Reduction-Victory.pdf
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Photo by Robby McCullough 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.
