{"id":451857,"date":"2026-04-30T17:37:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/2026\/04\/30\/smoke-free-partnership-sulle-posizioni-ue-bene-rinnovo-legislazione-sul-tabacco-ma-attenzione-ai-giovani\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T18:23:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:23:43","slug":"smoke-free-partnership-welcomes-eu-tobacco-legislation-renewal-urges-attention-for-young-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/2026\/04\/30\/smoke-free-partnership-welcomes-eu-tobacco-legislation-renewal-urges-attention-for-young-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke Free Partnership welcomes EU tobacco legislation renewal, urges attention for young people"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels \u2013 In the European debate on tobacco control, a number of key points are emerging that clearly define the direction\u2014and the challenges\u2014of current policies. On the one hand, the European Commission has made the issue a political priority<\/strong>, recognising that existing legislation is now outdated in the face of a profoundly changed market. On the other hand, negotiations between Member States are scaling back the initial ambition, mainly due to diverging economic interests. The issue of protecting young people, who are increasingly attracted to new nicotine-based products, remains central, as does the role of communication and marketing in making them appealing. Finally, there is the debate over the effectiveness of taxation and its alleged link to the illicit market, which, according to some sources, is often used to distort the political debate.<\/p>\n

Among these voices is that of Erin Roman, director of Smoke Free Partnership<\/a><\/strong>, a European coalition of NGOs working on EU policy analysis and advocacy for tobacco control, who, in an interview with Eunews<\/em>, offers direct insight into these complex dynamics, highlighting the tensions, expectations, and risks involved.<\/p>\n

Right from the start, Roman highlights a positive development: the growing institutional focus<\/strong>. \u201cI think what we\u2019re really grateful for is the fact that two Commissioners are working closely together on this issue,\u201d she says, emphasising that recognising the need to update the legislation is a crucial step. \u201cThey have recognised that the legislation is outdated<\/strong>, the market has completely changed, and there is a fundamentally new threat.\u201d This \u201cnew threat\u201d relates in particular to the growing consumption of emerging products among young people. A phenomenon which, according to Roman, can no longer be ignored: \u201cThere is massive consumption, especially among young people, of the latest products\u2026<\/strong> and I believe this is recognised globally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alongside the health aspect, the economic dimension is also coming to the fore. Roman suggests that the focus on taxation is no coincidence: \u201cOne of the reasons why so much importance has been attached to the tax issue is the financial situation the Commission finds itself in.\u201d However, she insists that public health must remain central: \u201cWe can commend them for putting public health at the forefront<\/strong> of their agendas.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the discussion turns to the proposal on tobacco taxation<\/a> (TED), the assessment becomes more nuanced. Roman acknowledges that there was initial satisfaction: \u201cWhen the proposal was presented, yes, we were really pleased with it.\u201d But there is no shortage of substantial criticism: \u201cThere were several aspects which, in our view, could have been strengthened<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The main problem today seems to be the gap between ambition and the reality of the negotiations<\/strong>. \u201cThe ambition expressed by the Commission is not reflected at all in the current discussions,\u201d she observes. And she adds quite clearly: \u201cThe level of ambition\u2026 is absolutely not what we are seeing at present.\u201d The requirement for unanimity among Member States further complicates the picture. Roman makes no secret of her frustration: \u201cThere are several countries taking very intransigent positions\u2026 we are a bit disappointed.\u201d She goes further, pointing to a specific cause: \u201cThere are too many commercial interests at stake<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n

In this context, the Cypriot Presidency<\/a> plays a delicate role. According to the director of the Smoke Free Partnership, Cyprus had the potential to act as<\/strong> a neutral mediator<\/strong>: \u201cIt was in the best position, a sort of neutral party.\u201d However, doubts are emerging about the ultimate objective: \u201cIt is one thing to close the dossier, but is the dossier, in its final form, really the most ambitious in terms of public health?\u201d The answer, for now, seems to be no. \u201cI don\u2019t think Cyprus has that objective in mind. The objective is to close the dossier.\u201d But Roman insists on a crucial distinction: \u201cThe real question should be: is the objective to close the dossier with the utmost ambition and with public health at the centre?\u201d<\/p>\n

The link between health and the economy, however, remains central to the coalition\u2019s agenda. Roman rejects<\/strong> the idea that taxation is merely a technical matter<\/strong>: \u201cTaxes are not a health issue, but they are a health problem because everything has a knock-on effect.\u201d She clarifies: \u201cIf I am ill, I cannot work and therefore cannot contribute to the economy. So how can we be competitive in this context?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

To support this argument, she cites a concrete example: Germany<\/strong>. \u201cThe German government is seeking to protect its citizens from inflation by raising the prices of tobacco products<\/strong>.\u201d An example which, according to Roman, demonstrates how fiscal policy is also used to achieve broader social protection objectives.<\/p>\n

On the subject of the illicit market, Roman is clear in rejecting the industry\u2019s dominant narrative<\/strong>: \u201cThe industry always claims that if prices are increased<\/a>, illicit trade rises.\u201d But she immediately qualifies this statement: \u201cThe real crux of the matter is law enforcement\u2026 it has nothing to do with taxes.\u201d In fact, she turns the argument on its head: \u201cIf you raise the price\u2026 the price of illicit products will also rise. It\u2019s a two-way street.\u201d According to Roman, this is often a communication strategy: \u201cThe industry is very good at presenting this kind of argument to cloud the debate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Commission’s assessment<\/a> of the tobacco products<\/a><\/strong> is considered, on the other hand, altogether positive.<\/strong> \u201cOverall, we were quite satisfied,\u201d she says, while pointing out some shortcomings, such as the lack of attention to filters. However, a structural problem emerges: delays. \u201cWe are a couple of years behind\u2026 and that means several lives that could have been saved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The focus of the interview, however, is on young people, identified as the real battleground for future policies.<\/strong> Roman describes a profound shift in the perception of nicotine-based products: \u201cIf you advertise a product like any other consumer good, you make no distinction between the risks.\u201d The historical comparison is striking: \u201cWe have practically gone back to the 1970s.\u201d According to her, the new communication channels also bear responsibility: \u201cAdvertising on social media does not indicate what the health risks are.\u201d And here one of the central points emerges clearly: the appeal of these products to young people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roman distinguishes between two categories of consumers: \u201cThose who have been smoking for many years and are looking for a way to quit\u201d and \u201cyoung people who might never have used these products, but are taking them up and think they\u2019re cool.\u201d The conclusion is harsh and direct: \u201cThis is the industry\u2019s business model; they need addiction<\/strong>.\u201d And again: \u201cYoung people are their target.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

In her own words, the director of the anti-smoking NGO coalition sends a clear underlying message: without a decisive change of pace<\/strong>, there is a risk that policies will come too late to keep up with a reality that is moving much faster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The director of the European coalition of anti-tobacco NGOs has criticised the tobacco industry: \u201cThis is the industry\u2019s business model\u2014they rely on addiction,\u201d she said, adding: \u201cYoung people are their target.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7896,"featured_media":451837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"0","show_post_related":"1","show_inline_post_related":"0"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":""},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[30961],"tags":[25871,32749,33694,29011],"class_list":["post-451857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-salute-en","tag-nicotina","tag-smoke-free-partnership","tag-tabacco-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7896"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451857"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":451858,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451857\/revisions\/451858"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/451837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}