Public health MEPs wrap up visit to WHO conference on tobacco control

A Public Health Committee delegation participated in the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Following the visit, the Chair of the delegation, Nicolás González Casares (S&D, ES) said: "Our participation in COP11 of the FCTC has been extremely valuable. As members of SANT, we have gained a clearer understanding of the challenges Europe faces and the areas where our collective efforts could be strengthened in the fight against tobacco.

The data remains concerning: in Europe, the use of new tobacco products among young people has risen to 26%, and the WHO European Region continues to account for 40% of the world’s women smokers. At this pace, we risk falling short of the goal of a “Tobacco-Free Generation” by 2040, defined as fewer than 5% of adults using tobacco.

During our mission, the Delegation also witnessed first-hand the deep concern within both the FCTC and WHO Europe regarding the trends observed in our continent. Their experts underlined that the current EU legal framework is outdated and insufficient to address today’s challenges. They also expressed serious worry about the strategies deployed by the tobacco industry to attract and addict a new generation of young people and adolescents to nicotine.

Protecting the health of young Europeans must remain a priority. The continued introduction of new and increasingly appealing nicotine products demonstrates that the industry adapts rapidly. Our regulatory framework, however, has not evolved at the same speed.

From the SANT committee and the European Parliament, we stand ready to contribute constructively to stronger, balanced action — and we encourage the Commission and the Council to match this level of ambition".

Background

The 11th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) takes place between 17 and 22 November 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the motto “20 years of change - uniting generations for a tobacco-free future”.

The SANT delegation led by Nicolás González Casares (S&D, ES), and formed by Sérgio Humberto (EPP, PT), Alessandra Moretti (S&D, IT), Ondřej Knotek (PfE, CZ), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR, IT) and Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Renew, RO), was in Geneva on 17 and 18 November 2025. They attended various sessions of the COP11 and met with WHO officials to discuss various issues such as the functioning and implementation of the FCTC, tobacco health risks and effects of novel products.