Why has the Commission made promoting smoke-free Europe priority?
Tobacco is the single largest cause of avoidable death in the EU. About 650 thousand people die each year because of smoking. A further 79,000 adults are killed by second-hand tobacco smoke. Action on smoke-free environments would not only protect people from the harm of passive smoking but also contribute to the overall reduction of tobacco consumption. In its Environment and Health Action Plan (2004-2010), the Commission committed itself to exploring both legal mechanisms and health promotion initiatives to promote the goal of a “smoke-free Europe”. At international level, the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control, the first ever treaty on public health, obliges the Community and its Member States to provide for comprehensive protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. What is the purpose of the Green Paper? The aim of the Green Paper is to launch a broad consultation process and an open public debate, involving the EU institutions, Member States and the civil society, on the be
