title: Tobacco control in Europe: a policy review.
abstract: Tobacco is responsible for the death of 6 million people every year globally, of whom 700 000 are in Europe. Effective policies for tobacco control exist; however, the status of their implementation varies across the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. In order to tackle the tobacco epidemic, action has been taken though the implementation of both legally binding and non-legally binding measures. This article aims to present the achievements and challenges of tobacco control in Europe, focussing on the available legally binding instruments such as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive at the European Union level. Tobacco still faces heavy lobbying of the tobacco industry, which has systematically contrasted policies to achieve public health objectives. The legal instruments for tobacco control in Europe presented here are not always adequately enforced in all the countries and there is certainly room for improving their implementation. Finally, the need for a strong political commitment towards the end-game of the tobacco epidemic is emphasised.
authors.affiliation: WHO Office at the European Union, Brussels, Belgium bertollinir@weu.who.int.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bertollini
authors.affiliation: WHO Office at the European Union, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mauer-Stender
authors.affiliation: WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gauden
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galea
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D033161:Government Regulation; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008119:Lobbying; D011050:Policy Making; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*