Main focus of Wednesday, January 31, 2007

An EU smoking ban?

Yesterday, European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou presented a strategy paper recommending laws for the protection of non-smokers. The paper has triggered a debate across Europe. Should each nation be allowed to decide for itself whether a smoking ban is compatible with its bar and restaurant culture or should the EU impose a pan-European smoking ban?

ABC - Spain

The chronicler Ramon Pérez-Maura considers that anti-tobacco legislation on a European scale can only harm the EU. "The principle of subsidiarity effective in the EU assures that what can be decided upon in the lower echelons need not be decided upon in higher echelons. Thus, if we Spaniards are already subjected to the authoritarism of our Health Minister, who dictates our daily behaviour, it makes no sense to try and apply a new set of rules on a European scale. .... If the Council of European Ministers decides to legislate, the members will align themselves with a more restrictive legislation. And that would be too bad for those who claim the right to choose for themselves. The promotion of a common anti-tobacco law does not favour Europeanism", but rather offers "a new reason for Eurosceptics to denounce the interventionism of Brussels." (31/01/2007)

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Die Presse - Austria

According to Wolfgang Böhm, smoking not only damages your health but also the economy: "The smoke makes it difficult for people to concentrate at work, it damages competitiveness, and it damages the already ailing state healthcare system." He hopes the EU's recommendation to introduce a total ban on smoking in cafés, bars, restaurants, and all public places will be enforced: "Whether it triggers a major protest or not: cafés, restaurants and bars will soon become non-smoking areas... At least here in Austria we can blame the EU, even though its commissioner only recommended a total ban yesterday (for which he'll nonetheless be hated by smokers). This still won't make the European Commission a very credible health proponent because it plans to continue supporting tobacco growing until the year 2010." (31/01/2007)

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Berliner Zeitung - Germany

"Anyone who travels across Europe in a car and stops off in Germany needs strong lungs," writes Gerold Büchner, pointing out that in no other country are motorway restaurants as smoke-filled as here. Germany's European neighbours Italy and Ireland are much more advanced as far as protecting non-smokers is concerned, Büchner adds, saying that it's no wonder many Germans want Brussels to introduce pan-European non-smoking laws. However, he gives the following warning: "The European Union would be well advised to stay out of the dispute, here and in other countries. Each country has its own bar and restaurant culture, and should be free to decide for itself how to balance the conflicting interests – the freedom to smoke and the right to be in a smoke-free environment. Any interference from Brussels would not only escalate the national debate, but also cause unnecessary damage to Europe's reputation. The example set by others is the most effective incentive." (30/01/2007)

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Večer - Slovenia

Slovenia is also discussing the introduction of an anti-smoking law banning smoking in pubs and bars. Tadeja Lampret points out that the anti-smoking campaign is about protecting non-smokers, not persecuting smokers. "The decision to smoke or not smoke is a personal one made by the individual, and the State shouldn't interfere... It will be interesting to see how the State intends to enforce such a smoking ban. Would it lead to a surge of illegal bars that provide refuge for smokers because of a chronic lack of sufficient inspectors to enforce the law properly?" (31/01/2007)

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Cotidianul - Romania

Romania is still considered a smokers' paradise. Up to now, smoking has been restricted only in public buildings there. Costi Rogozanu can't see any point in the anti-smoking campaign – apart from the fact that he finds the warnings on cigarette packs funny: "I recently heard someone in a shop asking for a 'pack of Kent – the ones that damage your sperm'. At least the warnings have provided a new subject for jokes. Europe has now commissioned shock photos aimed at putting people off smoking for good – pictures of lungs destroyed by cancer and the like... This is tougher than any of the campaigns against drugs, alcohol, gluttony, corruption or human trafficking that I've seen. I know you can't compare apples with pears, or cigarettes with alcohol (although they go well together), but the anti-smoking campaign is taking on absurdly aggressive dimensions. It's a classic case – happy feelings are being banned." (31/01/2007)

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