European health ministers have supported a nonbinding EU proposal to extend smoking and vaping bans to outdoor spaces, despite objections from some countries and lawmakers.
Germany and Greece abstained during the vote, and several nations expressed dissatisfaction before ultimately approving the recommendation. The plan encourages bans in outdoor areas such as transport hubs, bar terraces, beaches and playgrounds. However, Hungarian Health Minister Péter Takács clarified that the recommendation is not legally binding, allowing member states to decide whether to implement it.
Critics, including Germany and Greece, questioned the scientific basis for the bans and warned of potential economic impacts. Germany noted the bans could harm the hospitality sector, while Greece called for an impact assessment before advancing the proposal.
Several countries already have similar national restrictions and support EU-wide alignment. France plans to ban vape sales, while Slovenia and the Netherlands have outlawed flavored vapes. Belgium and Estonia urged stronger EU measures to counteract the tobacco industry’s tactics and ensure uniform regulations.
With the nonbinding recommendation now in place, countries like Finland, Latvia and Belgium are calling on the European Commission to introduce stricter, binding tobacco laws, including updated taxation and regulations. However, achieving consensus in the European Parliament may prove challenging.
