Press Release: Cigarettes: MEPs oppose renewing EU anti-smuggling deals with tobacco firms

The European Parliament's plenary session urged the European Commission not to renew a deal between the European Union and Philip Morris International (PMI) on anti-smuggling and anti-counterfeiting, in a resolution approved on 9 March 2016.

MEPs asked the Commission to focus instead on using legislative tools from the European Union and beyond to combat smuggling.

Media reported on 21 March that the EU's anti-fraud office (OLAF) was stepping up its unofficial support to the renewal of the tobacco agreements. However, further reports in July indicated that the Commission was not going to renew such deals.

ESO: Background information: Ombudsman regrets Commission stance on UN tobacco lobbying rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-ombudsman-regrets-commission-stance-on-un-tobacco-lobbying-rules/

ESO: Background information: EU struggles to renew deal with Big Tobacco http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-struggles-to-renew-deal-with-big-tobacco/

EUObserver, 09.03.16: MEPs urge EU commission to end Philip Morris deal https://euobserver.com/economic/132621

EurActiv, 10.03.16: Parliament votes to cut ties with Philip Morris http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/parliament-votes-to-cut-ties-with-philip-morris/

Politico, 21.03.16: EU anti-fraud official backs tobacco agreements http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-anti-fraud-official-backs-tobacco-agreements/

EUObserver, 13.04.16: EU states 'unlikely to block new tobacco deal' https://euobserver.com/economic/133022

EUObserver, 06.07.16: EU ends anti-smuggling deal with tobacco firm PMI https://euobserver.com/economic/134225

Politico, 06.07.16: EU to end anti-smuggling deal with Philip Morris http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-to-end-anti-smuggling-deal-with-philip-morris/

EurActiv, 11.07.16: Commission vows to tackle illicit tobacco trade ‘by its own means’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/commission-vows-to-tackle-illicit-tobacco-trade-by-its-own-means/

---