EU: the Council recommends Member States to improve workers’ protection against the tobacco smoke

Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia abstained from voting. The recommendation is based, almost word for word, on the text proposed by the European Commission on June 30 (see our dispatch n°090691). It recommends the member states to take legal action to protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, indoor public places, public transport and, if appropriate, other public places by 2012. In addition to smoking bans, the Council wants the Member States to promote nicotine withdrawal, introduce warning signs on cigarette packs, or even regularly reexamine their national antismoking programs. Finally, the recommendation asks the European Commission to establish national contacts to facilitate the exchange of information between the States and let the Council know about the efficiency of the measures adopted by the 27. 
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cotine withdrawal, introduce warning signs on cigarette packs, or even regularly reexamine their national antismoking programs. Finally, the recommendation asks the European Commission to establish national contacts to facilitate the exchange of information between the States and let the Council know about the efficiency of the measures adopted by the 27.

European Parliament resolution. At the Council’s request, MEPs adopted a resolution three days earlier. This text has the same meaning, i.e.

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