European Parliament’s Intergroup on Cancer & Rare Diseases calls for sustained ambition on tobacco control and taxation ahead of World No Tobacco Day
Ahead of the European Week Against Cancer and World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Cancer & Rare Diseases emphasises the urgent need for strong and sustained European action on tobacco and nicotine control policies.
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable cancer across Europe, responsible for 27% of all cancer cases. Tobacco consumption also remains the leading cause of premature deaths in the European Union, accounting for approximately 700,000 deaths every year according (European Commission).
World No Tobacco Day brings together governments, health organisations, civil society and young people worldwide to raise awareness of the harms caused by tobacco use, expose the tactics of the tobacco industry, and promote effective policies to end nicotine and tobacco addiction. This year’s theme, ‘Countering nicotine and tobacco addiction’, is particularly timely considering the growing popularity of novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products among young people across Europe.
An estimated 29% of Europeans aged 15 to 24 smoke (European Commission). At the same time, exposure to novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, often marketed as alternatives to conventional cigarettes, is increasing significantly among younger generations. These trends risk undermining years of progress in tobacco prevention and threaten the EU’s ambition to achieve a Tobacco-Free Generation by 2040.
The Intergroup on Cancer & Rare Diseases therefore calls for sustained political ambition on tobacco prevention, regulation and taxation at European level. The long-awaited revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive, including the extension to novel tobacco and nicotine products, is a key commitment under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and an essential instrument to reduce consumption, particularly among young people. Maintaining robust investment in health and prevention must remain a political priority for the European Union.
In this regard, mechanisms introduced by the European Commission in July 2025 as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 package, such as the Tobacco Excise Duty Own Resource are estimated to generate €11.2 billion annually in additional EU revenue. These resources could significantly strengthen the EU health budget without increasing national contributions, while supporting efforts to tackle cancer and other major public health challenges.
The Intergroup on Cancer & Rare Diseases underlines that effective tobacco control policies remain among the most powerful tools for cancer prevention. For World No Tobacco Day, Members of the European Parliament and stakeholders across the health community call on the European Commission and Member States to maintain a high level of ambition and ensure that no dilution of tobacco and nicotine control measures undermines Europe’s public health objectives.
‘Europe has already shown that strong tobacco control policies save lives, but tobacco remains one of the leading causes of cancer. The market continues to evolve in ways that too often reach and attract younger generations. What we need now is consistency in how we respond to it: effective taxation that reduces affordability, comprehensive regulation of all tobacco and nicotine products, and strong protection of public health decision-making from commercial interference. If we truly want a tobacco-free generation, then the EU and Member States must stop delaying and start acting with the level of ambition this public health crisis requires,’ says Intergroup Co-Chair, Tilly Metz MEP.
‘Tobacco causes 27% of all cancers in Europe. The tobacco and nicotine industry knows this, and yet it continues to reinvent its products to recruit new generations of users. As policymakers, we carry a moral responsibility to protect the people it targets. No European citizen should become a lifelong consumer of tobacco and nicotine because we failed to act.
On this World No Tobacco Day, I want to stress that it is imperative that the EU taxes tobacco and nicotine products at a level that reflects the true cost they impose on our societies. And those revenues must flow back into the health of European citizens, into cancer prevention, into treatment, into building the tobacco-free future our citizens deserve,’ said Intergroup Co-Chair, Vlad Voiculescu MEP.
‘The tobacco and nicotine industry is deliberately targeting non-smokers and young people. Among them, women and girls are paying an unacceptable price, as the tobacco industry uses slick marketing to glamorise addiction.
This is not just a public health crisis; it is also a gender equality issue. In Europe alone, tobacco killed nearly one in twenty women in 2021. Unfortunately, recent data show that Europe still has one of the highest rates of smoking among women. It is time to act now.
The European Union must stand firm: stronger action is needed on prevention, taxation, and regulation, including measures addressing the new wave of nicotine products flooding our markets. If we are serious about the future of the next generation, we must be serious about stopping an industry that profits from addiction.,’ says Intergroup Co-Chair, Alessandra Moretti MEP.
‘Choose breath over smoke, life over addiction. This World No Tobacco Day, take the first step toward a healthier future. Every cigarette avoided is a victory for your lungs, your heart, and your loved ones. Quitting tobacco is not just about giving up a habit - it’s about reclaiming your health, your freedom, and your future. Let 31 May be the day you choose strength and a life that inspires others to do the same,’ adds Intergroup Co-Chair, Tomislav Sokol MEP.