A new statement calls for the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) to be accelerated during the new European Commission mandate.
The European Lung Foundation (ELF) has joined other health-focused organisations to urge the European Commission to speed up the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP). The Plan is a political commitment to beat cancer, putting a focus on prevention, early detection, access to treatment, and improving quality of life. ELF and its partners are concerned that progress has slowed since the plan was introduced in 2021, especially regarding prevention efforts.
The joint call supports the recent proposals for Smoke Free Environments (an element of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan) but warns about the health risks from new products like vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). All organisations urge Member States to ban the use of vapes and HTPs in indoor and outdoor places.
Tobacco use remains a major cause of preventable illnesses and deaths in the EU, with nearly 700,000 deaths each year. Although the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown, almost all independent research has revealed some negative health effects and existing evidence indicates that this damage will have lasting effects and lead to the development of diseases.
Members of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee, including ELF Chair Dimitris Kontopidis, highlight that updating regulations around smoking and vaping is crucial to protect young people and improve public health. Member States should act quickly to revise tobacco laws, as the rise of new products among young people is concerning.
Dimitris Kontopidis, Chair of the European Lung Foundation, said:
“Smoke from tobacco and novel products greatly impact lung health and are particularly harmful for patients. The rise in use of novel products in the youth is extremely concerning, which is why the revisions of the tobacco legislations are needed. We call on the European Commission to launch this imminently.”
Dr Filippos Filippidis, ERS Tobacco Control Committee Chair, said:
“The tobacco initiatives under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan present a significant opportunity for tobacco control and protecting the youth and general population from the harmful effects of tobacco and emerging products.
“The EU has a responsibility to update legislations that are now lagging behind the tobacco industry’s innovation.”
All named organisations call for the EU to take immediate action on this issue.
Read the full statement, including its specific calls on the EU Commission and Member States.
The joint statement was made by the European Cancer Organisation, the European Lung Foundation, the European Respiratory Society, Lungs Europe, the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Cardiology, Lung Cancer Europe and the Smoke Free Partnership.
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