The CEO of German publishing powerhouse Axel Springer lashed out at the European Commission’s proposal to ban vaping everywhere, saying that it’s causing voters to lose respect for the EU - an argument Clearing the Air’s co-founder has also made.
“You would have to laugh out loud if it wasn't so sad. The message is highly symbolic” wrote Matthias Döphner in German daily tabloid Bild.
“Out-of-control immigration policies and Islamist violence are frightening people and destabilizing Europe's democracies. Putin's Russia and Xi's China are waging or funding war on our doorstep and are trying to further alienate the US and the EU in order to weaken freedom. Economies of the "old world" are stagnating or collapsing…and in Brussels they are working on banning smoking [and vaping] outdoors!”
“It shows the weakness of the EU, which the world looks at with pity. Instead of dealing with the real problems, the leadership is delivering politics on side issues and patronising the people. And the people are losing respect”.
The German Parliament (the Bundesrat) has also rejected the European Commission’s proposal to ban vaping in all public places, claiming that the EU Executive’s recommendation lacks a reliable scientific basis.
“[N]o empirically established exposure levels or their potential health impacts are provided for the various outdoor areas”, the Bundesrat concludes. “Therefore, the Bundesrat questions the reliability of the data”.
The Bundesrat also expressed particular concern over potential revenue losses for businesses such as restaurants and cafés, viewing the proposed bans critically. They also highlighted the challenges of enforcing such a law, which would impose significant costs on states and add considerable strain to regulatory authorities already facing chronic understaffing.
In Germany, vaping in pubic spaces is regulated at the state (Lander) level. State governments have the authority to implement restrictions, not those at the Federal level.
The Commission’s proposal recommends that Member States ban vaping everywhere. A final is expected from EU member states in December with the European Parliament set to vote on its position this week, although even if it is adopted, health policy remains the responsibility of Member States. This means the recommendation statement will not be legally binding.
