EU bureaucrats plotting to use WHO treaty to sideline Parliament on tobacco harm reduction
24.10.2023
Question for written answer E-003139/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Johan Nissinen (ECR)
Officials from the Commission and the European Council aim to force Parliament into opposing positions on vape products, pouches, and heated tobacco items, sidestepping democratic scrutiny. By exploiting the tenth Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, they plan to endorse extreme WHO positions, presenting them as international law requirements for the EU. This covert approach bypasses public and parliamentary consultation and could potentially harm the health of millions of Europeans using safer smoke-free nicotine products. EU negotiators intend to implement these decisions without transparency, raising concerns about the democratic process. There are calls for transparency and for existing EU legislation to be adhered to without allowing external pressure to influence new laws or regulations.
- 1.What concerns have been raised about this approach, particularly regarding public and parliamentary consultation and the potential impact on the health of European citizens using smoke-free nicotine products?
- 2.What steps does the Commission suggest to address the lack of transparency and accountability in the decision-making process related to tobacco control policies within the EU?
- 3.What role does the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control play in shaping international tobacco control policies, and how are these policies integrated into the EU’s legislative framework?
Submitted: 24.10.2023