WRITTEN QUESTION E-1828/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(13 October 1999)

Subject: Smoking as a cause of ill-health in the world and EU policy

Apart from causing cancer, fatal heart disease and a host of other illnesses, smoking is now being blamed for male impotence in smokers between the ages of 21 and 75, according to studies by the BMA. At the same time, research by the Athens Medical School has revealed that medical students are unaware of the harmful effects of smoking and that one in two smokes regularly. It should be pointed out that in Greece alone the number of young smokers increases by some 50 000 a year. In the EU the tobacco industry spends as much in one day alone on advertising its products as is spent in one year on information campaigns against smoking.

In view of the above, will the Commission say what action is it taking, what resources does it have available and what policy is it pursuing in order to address the prime cause of ill-health that can be tackled and protect the health of European citizens and young people in particular?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1999)

In December 1996, the Commission published a communication(1) with a view to contributing to an investigation of existing and future strategies to combat tobacco consumption across the EU and in the individual Member States in order to reduce the impact of tobacco on public health in Europe. In September 1999, the Commission published a report(2) on action taken by the Commission at Community level since the publication of its communication in 1996.

The action taken by the Commission to finance projects to combat tobacco consumption can be divided into two general parts:

1. Under Decision No 646/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting an action plan to combat cancer within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000)(3), which relates to the third action plan to combat cancer, the Commission is subsidising, first and foremost, two major prevention networks: the first, which is of a general nature, is the European Network for Smoking Prevention(4); the second, which is targeted at young people, is the European Network on Young People and Tobacco(5). These two networks coordinate prevention programmes at European level. In 1998, 2 million worth of subsidies were provided, which will rise to over 3 million in 1999. The entire programme will have a budget of 14 million in 1999.

2. A Community fund for tobacco research was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco(6), most recently amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98(7). This fund is used by the Commission to finance, among other things, projects concerning the health risk posed by tobacco consumption. The projects which receive support are largely targeted at young people. This fund, which was financed by a deduction of 1 % from the producers' premium, was doubled at the beginning of the 1999 harvest.

As far as the advertising of tobacco products is concerned, it should be pointed out that television advertising is prohibited by Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities(8). In addition, the other forms of advertising and sponsorship are governed by Directive 98/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products(9).

(1) COM(96) 609 final.

(2) COM(1999) 407 final.

(3) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996.

(4) Réseau Européen pour la Prévention du Tabagisme European Network for Smoking Prevention (REPT-ENSP) rue de Pascale, 48, 1040 Brussels, Belgium.

(5) Réseau Européen Jeunes et Tabac European Network on Young People and Tobacco (ENYPAT) National Public Health Institute (KTL), Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland.

(6) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(7) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998.

(8) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989.

(9) OJ L 213, 30.7.1998.