An initiative by the European Commission has been approved in EU countries, calling for a ban on smoking in places like playgrounds, café terraces, and other open areas such as bus stops and zoos.
The resolution is advisory in nature, as healthcare remains under the jurisdiction of national governments. The initiative aims to combat passive smoking and also takes into account new forms of tobacco products, including heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, whose safety has not yet been proven.
Medical organizations have supported the initiative, noting that the 2009 regulations are outdated. The goal of the resolution is to reduce the risks of passive smoking and help create a “smoke-free generation” by 2040, when the proportion of smokers in the EU is expected to decrease to 5%.
While the initiative is welcomed by many, some countries express concern over potential restrictions on personal freedoms.
