The new coalition government has pledged to complete privatisation in the Balkan state. However, smoking will not decrease, as illegal imports are forecast to increase further. Also, tourists bring tax-free cigarettes to the country. Finland's tobacco confiscation volume at the border has decreased in 2001 compared to 2000. Customs says that this is due to the smuggling routes having been changed.
Illegal tobacco is smuggled to Finland more and more via Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
It is estimated that every fifth cigarette smoked in Finland is hand- rolled. According to Specialist Kristiina Patja of the Finnish National Public Health Institute, all statistics show that smoking habits have not changed in Finland. On the other hand, the middle aged have clearly reduced smoking over the past decade. A spokeswoman for the Labour Ministry declined to comment on the report. The legal workweek in France was shortened from 39 to 35 hours this year in a bid to slash unemployment.