Press Release: Commission welcomes US Court decision to allow the EU to proceed with the case against Reynolds American on tobacco smuggling

On 24 April 2014, the European Commission welcomed the decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City to allow the European Union and 26 Member States to proceed with their civil claims against Reynolds American Inc. (“RJR”) in relation to the illicit trade in cigarettes.

Tobacco smuggling is estimated to cost public budgets around €10 billion a year in the EU alone, undermines health policies, and helps to fund even more sinister crimes. The civil litigation against RJR is part of the EU’s continuous efforts to fight the illicit tobacco trade.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Commissioner Šemeta opens high level conference on EU-US cooperation to tackle cigarette smuggling http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commissioner-semeta-opens-high-level-conference-on-eu-us-cooperation-to-tackle-cigarette-smuggling/

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