Conference: Change is in the air - future directions in tobacco control in the EU

Date: 17-18 June 2004
Location: Radisson SAS Hotel, Limerick, Ireland.

The office of Tobacco Control hosted a conference on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children to coincide with Ireland's Presidency of the European Union.  The conference took place in Limerick on 17-18 June 2004.

The aim of the conference was to review tobacco control policies in the European Union.  The programme focused on taking stock of what has been achieved to date in this field and, in the context of enlargement of the European Union, provided an opportunity to stimulate debate on where we go from here in the 21st Century.

Conference Objectives

• To review existing tobacco control policies in Europe and to take stock of achievements to date
• To identify successful tobacco control policies across Europe and globally where applicable
• To identify where further efforts are still needed at European or national level, for example in terms of greater governmental or non governmental capacity and regulatory response and to propose recommendations
• To identify where better knowledge is needed to support policy decisions and to propose recommendations
• To consider future actions in the context of the changing European environment for tobacco control (enlargement, the adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, new developments at national policy level)
• To disseminate and provide feedback on the development of the Commission's Strategic Tobacco Control Report

Keynote speakers provided background evidence, information and identified important strategies for future policy development. Experts led the discussion to achieve the overall aim of developing sound recommedations at the end of the consultation.

Conference Recommendations

The aim of the conference recommendations is to contribute to the ongoing and future Tobacco Control Policy in the European Union in accordance with a strengthened scientific evidence base.

They should also highlight and focus the attention of policymakers on the need for a comprehensive multifaceted approach to tobacco control encompassing prevention, protection, cessation and harm reduction, together with strong political leadership and the need to engage and empower communities and stakeholders in support of tobacco control policies.