European Conservatives and Reformists believe that the Commission's proposal to subject e-cigarettes to the same restrictions as combustible cigarettes goes too far.

European Conservatives and Reformists believe that the Commission’s proposal to subject e-cigarettes to the same restrictions as combustible cigarettes goes too far. Speaking ahead of today’s vote in the European Parliament, ECR shadow rapporteur Pietro Fiocchi, said: “We see the outdoor smoking ban as a violation of individual freedom.”

The Commission’s text aims to treat electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products in the same way as cigarettes, preventing users from using them where cigarettes are banned and extending the ban not only to all indoor areas but also to outdoor areas, such as terraces and public transport stations.

“In our opinion, the proposal lacks an assessment of the real risk and ignores new scientific evidence”, Fiocchi stressed.

The ECR Group supports the goal of a tobacco-free generation by 2040, with less than 5 per cent of the population using tobacco, compared to around 25 per cent today. However, the Commission ignores the fact that cigarette alternatives such as vaping continue to prove helpful for people trying to quit smoking. According to Fiocchi, the demonisation of smoking alternatives is irrational, especially by advocates of political parties that support the liberalisation of recreational cannabis.