EC supported measures against smoking, taken in Bulgaria

published on 2/20/12 1:05 PM

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli

Photo: Архив

EC supported measures against smoking, taken in Bulgaria

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European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli gave his full support for restriction of smoking in this country. He came to Bulgaria to present the results from the online campaign of the EC, named Ex-Smokers Are Unstoppable and also to encourage the efforts of the Bulgarian government in this direction. Mr. Dalli discussed in Sofia this topic with PM Boyko Borissov, Minister of Health Dr. Stefan Konstantinov, MPs from the Healthcare Committee and Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds in the parliament and also with media.

The campaign against smoking that started in June 2011 had a huge effect throughout Europe, especially among young people. Over 160,000 Europeans have registered online over the past months with the idea to quit smoking. Over 9,000 of those are Bulgarians, Mr. Dalli pointed out. The exsmokers.eu website gives advice to anyone on the dropping of the bad habit. Mr. John Dalli himself used to be a smoker with up to 60 cigarettes per day, when he decided to stop. “It is really hard in the beginning, I know that, but I am much happier now,” the European commissioner praised. According to a January 2012 research of Bulgarian British Social Service (BBSS) Gallup International, the number of smokers in this country went down by 3 percent last year and now they are 39 percent of all Bulgarians. Another 10 percent of the polled have declared their will to stop smoking in the next 2-3 months. Data further shows that smoking is the most significant preventable reason for death rate in Europe. However, clubs and restaurants shouldn’t be afraid that their business will be ruined by the full ban on smoking in enclosed areas. The EU experience shows that the number of customers in such places doesn’t drop, but increases in a while, the commissioner said.

The deadline for implementation of the ban on smoking in all enclosed areas, adopted via an agreement within the European Council is 2012. “The campaign of the EC is not aimed against tobacco producers or any other sector, but at people’s health and it is in favor of EU citizens. Besides that, it is a part of other measures, taken by the EC, for instance those for fighting obesity or alcohol abuse. The goal is guaranteeing of EU healthcare system’s sustainability, along with providing better health for its citizens by investing in this system in a manner that prevents diseases,” the commissioner said.

European Commissioner Dalli hopes that the Law for the Ban on Smoking in Public Areas, adopted at a first reading by the parliament several days before his Sofia visit, will become reality. It is about to be voted at a second reading. According to Chair of Healthcare Committee in the Parliament Dessislava Atanasova “this measure is a secure investment in the prevention of Bulgarians’ health and mostly in the nation’s future health.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

По публикацията работи: Tatyana Obretenova

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EC supported measures against smoking, taken in Bulgaria

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