24th November2001 - immediate
Row at WHO tobaccoconvention as ‘petulant' European Union denies it is dragged down by Germany
Geneva - A new row has broken today out in the tobaccopolicy negotiations in Geneva over the role of the EU and Germany in promotingthe interests of the tobacco industry. Once again the European Union is acting as a mechanism to reduce 15countries to the level of the member state most opposed to meaningful responseto the 4 million annual deaths caused by tobacco. Once again, Germany is holding back the progressive member statesby insisting on weakening or deleting meaningful provisions widely supported bydeveloping countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
This destructive role of the EU is an uncomfortable truthfor negotiators from the European Commission. Stung by criticism, the Commission has made a petulant response to anewspaper report (Financial Times, 23 Nov) indicating that Germany is promotingtobacco industry positions and forcing the rest of the EU to go along withit. Despite official denials that theEU was holding up the negotiation ASH maintained the EU was effectively actingas a front for Germany, and Germany as a front for the tobacco industry. With the consistent pressure from Germany…
- The EU will not support a global ban on duty free sales of tobacco - even though it is banned within the EU
- The EU will not allow its members to speak in favour of banning tobacco advertising, even though 12 of 15 member states voted for exactly that in 1998.
- The EU will not seek meaningful measures on passive smoking, even though EU directives require worker protection and measures to eliminate passive smoking in places used by kids command widespread support.
Clive Bates, Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)based in London, said:
In these negotiations, theEuropean Union moves at the speed of the slowest and most negative memberstate. And in this case, that isGermany.
Many of the developing countrieshere in Geneva are looking to Europe for leadership in the fight againsttobacco, but all they see is the domination of Germany, with the EU effectivelyacting as a mouthpiece for increasingly pro-tobacco positions.
If 60 developing countries want aban on tobacco advertising in the convention, how does the European Union endup in the humiliating position of opposing them, just because Germany has dugits heels in? If they were negotiatingin good faith, they could find a way to give Germany what it needs withoutsabotaging the treaty for developing countries, but they're not even trying,just hiding behind the bureaucratic difficulties.
It makes you ashamed to be a European at this meeting. They come to Geneva and display the worst ofEurope when there is such a good story to tell from all the progressiveEuropean countries. The disease oftobacco industry money and influence is infecting the health politics of theEuropean Union and Germany is the prime carrier.
