Brussels recalls that every year in the European Union (EU), 700,000 people lose their lives due to tobacco consumption, including tens of thousands due to passive smoking, and reveals that it has carried out a review of a recommendation on anti-smoking policies.

The proposal to review the Council Recommendation on creating smoke-free spaces, explains the European Commission, "is a direct attempt to help better protect people from the effects of passive smoking and aerosols" and marks "another step forward in the EU's global efforts to denormalise the consumption of tobacco and emerging products, combat nicotine addiction and improve preventive health".

The review therefore calls on EU countries to extend the "coverage of smoke-free policies to key outdoor areas, including children's play areas such as public playgrounds, amusement parks and swimming pools, as well as public buildings and transport stops and stations".

It also recommends "extending smoke-free policies to include emerging products such as heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, which are increasingly targeting very young users".

The Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments was adopted in 2009 and at the time called on EU countries to implement laws "that fully protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed public places, workplaces and public transport, to "reinforce anti-tobacco legislation with supporting measures such as encouraging efforts to quit smoking and displaying pictorial warnings on tobacco packaging" and to strengthen cooperation at EU level "by establishing a network of national tobacco control focal points".

The current review also encourages EU countries "to exchange best practices and strengthen international cooperation to maximise the impact of measures taken across the EU".