The health ministers of the EU countries spoke out on Tuesday in favor of a “smoke-free environment”. Johannes Rauch (Greens) had already announced in advance that he wanted to implement the controversial recommendation – and wanted to let off a lot of steam in the process.
“It is purely a recommendation,” Rauch explained before the announcement in Brussels. False news was being spread in some media, Rauch said ahead of a meeting of EU health ministers in Brussels – without providing any evidence for his accusations. On platform
Although the EU recommendations on a “smoke-free environment” are not binding on EU countries, they had previously caused an uproar in Austria. The voluntary nature of this has not been sufficiently made clear to the minister. But now he has indicated that he would like to implement stricter regulations.
Rauch wants to extend the smoking ban
Austria has already implemented many of the planned measures, Rauch told press representatives in Brussels. He also spoke out clearly in favor of a smoking ban on children’s playgrounds in Austria. “It has actually been agreed upon, it is on the ministry, it failed because of the ÖVP’s resistance,” said the Green politician. At the same time, the ÖVP state councilors would call for such a ban, Rauch said. Smoking next to children is “not okay”. Even outdoors.
In view of the proposed EU recommendation, the minister spoke in favor of a ‘fact-based debate culture’. If the gossip media “make an impact”, some would think they should “jump on”, Rauch said in response to a question about a statement by Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP).
Last week Nehammer wrote on the online platform The protection for non-smokers in Austria is sufficient, with the ÖVP there will be no smoking ban in the open air.”
In mid-September, the European Commission proposed recommending that EU countries ban smoking, especially in places where children are present – such as playgrounds, swimming pools, schools, but also in the outdoor areas of catering establishments.
EU: “Tobacco-free generation” as goal
In addition to expanding smoke-free zones to outdoor areas, the expansion to alternative tobacco products (e.g. electronic cigarettes, take note) was also recommended. This is in response to findings that these products can also cause damage to the health of passive users, the committee said in a statement at the time.
The recommendations adopted on Tuesday are part of the European plan against cancer. The sub-goal is a ‘tobacco-free generation’ by 2040, with less than five percent of people still using tobacco products.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
