20 Years of Tobacco Control in the EU: Are We Moving Towards a Tobacco-Free Future?
Two decades after the European Union ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a new report from WHO/Europe highlights notable progress in tobacco control policies. Despite this, tobacco still causes more than half a million deaths across the region each year.
“Twenty years ago, the EU adopted this landmark United Nations convention and built its internal legal pillars in alignment with the WHO FCTC vision – to save lives and protect all people from the wide-ranging health risks of tobacco use – from cancer and cardiovascular diseases to tuberculosis and dementia,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
Dr. Kluge emphasized that while the EU has made substantial policy advances, tobacco’s overall health burden in Europe remains severe, with significant variations between Member States.
The WHO European Programme of Work 2026–2030 renews the goal of reducing noncommunicable disease risks, urging stronger regional action against tobacco use and related health threats.
Tobacco Impact and Global Health Goals
- Tobacco kills over 500,000 people annually in the EU.
- Approximately 80,000 of these deaths result from second-hand smoke exposure.
- The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3a calls for strengthening implementation of the WHO FCTC.
- Faster implementation supports the Global Action Plan target: a 30% relative reduction in tobacco use by 2025.
Key Takeaway
The EU’s ongoing commitment to tobacco control remains critical as it strives for a healthier, tobacco-free generation.
Author’s summary: The EU has advanced far in tobacco control since 2005, yet persistent health disparities show the fight for a tobacco-free future is still unfinished.