Brussels - A Europe-wide tobacco advertising and sponsorship ban was overwhelmingly backed by MEPs yesterday.
A vote of the European Parliament's environment committee effectively rebuffed opponents of the ban who claim the new European legislation is a breach of their right to freedom of expression. Now the full European Parliament is virtually certain to endorse the ban on May 12th, ushering in the first pan-European legislation of its kind in EU history.
In a 36-7 vote members of the environment committee endorsed the move, insisting Brussels was within in its rights to take steps to protect public health and impose an EU blackout on the promotion of tobacco products. "This is a great victory," said environment committee chairmen Ken Collins, a Scottish Labour MEP.
