07/02/2025
Tobacco industry lobbyists have wasted no time in making their presence felt in the new European Parliament by assuring a record-high number of meetings with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Patriots for Europe (PfE) groups.
According to new analysis from Corporate Europe Observatory and Smoke Free Partnership, MEPs have already met with tobacco lobbyists 33 times since September 2024—a notable increase compared to the last mandate, where just over 100 meetings were recorded over five years.
This surge in lobbying activity is particularly concerning to anti-smoking advocates, who have sounded the alarm about the industry’s growing influence.
As anticipated in our how-to-guide “To Engage or Not to Engage with the Far Right?”, the European Parliament’s new composition, which includes a stronger presence of far-right MEPs, appears to be an easy target for the tobacco industry. MEPs from far-right groups seem to have little hesitation in engaging with an industry that has long been scrutinised for its tactics to influence public health policies.
Weakening Tobacco Control Policies
The tobacco industry’s increased lobbying comes at a critical time, as the EU is set to review key tobacco regulations, including policies on sales, advertising, and taxation. In 2023, the European Commission attempted to strengthen smoking bans by recommending that member states extend restrictions to certain outdoor areas and include vaping products. However, the proposal failed to gain support in the European Parliament after it was significantly watered down by right-wing MEPs.
This trend has prompted transparency and health organisations to raise concerns about the EU’s failure to enforce Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This provision obligates policymakers to protect public health policies from the vested interests of the tobacco industry. Advocacy groups have called on European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to address the issue, emphasising that many newly elected MEPs may not even be aware of this obligation.
A Turning Point for Tobacco Policy
The EU has long positioned itself as a leader in global tobacco control, yet the tobacco industry’s aggressive lobbying efforts suggest that significant challenges lie ahead. With the far right’s growing political influence, the risk of policy backsliding is real. Weakening tobacco regulations could have profound consequences for public health across Europe, particularly in light of increasing concerns over vaping among young people and the broader efforts to reduce smoking-related diseases.
As the European Parliament prepares to debate new tobacco-related policies, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will prioritise public health over industry interests. For now, one thing is clear: the tobacco lobby has found willing ears among Europe’s new wave of right-wing legislators, and the fight for stronger tobacco control measures will be an uphill battle.
