The conference “Smoking Bans and Lies” to be held at the European Parliament, Brussels on 27-28 January 2009 was publicised late in 2008. The conference claimed to develop methods and strategies to end “the use of pseudo-science” in relation to tobacco control. Given the Parliament’s adopted reports and the European Community’s legislation and commitments on this topic, the Smokefree Partnership, Comite National contre le tabagisme and members of the European Network for Smoking Prevention, sent letters to the EP Bureau drawing their attention to the conference programme and organisation. As a result, the conference was cancelled.
The letter sent to the European Parliament questioned the merits of granting the use of the EP premises to organise such an event and highlighted the reasons why the event should not take place on EP premises :
the event appeared to be in contravention of Parliament’s own rules of procedure and was detrimental to the dignity of Parliament.
the event went against all of Parliament’s adopted reports and the European Community’s legislation and commitments on this topic.
it violated the spirit of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
What made this case a successful campaign ?
The Smokefree Partnership took action at an early stage : a letter was sent to the European Parliament President, Bureau and Quaestors soon after details of the conference were published. The content of the letter was then shared with the tobacco control community. Members of the European Network for Smoking Prevention reacted quickly and took action by sending letters to their MEPs. The arguments presented in the letter were also shared with health-friendly MEPs who, after being alerted, also complained to the European Parliament bureau.
For more information
European Network for Smoking Prevention
Details of the International Coalition Against Prohibition
*UPDATED* European smoking bans - Evolution of the legislation
