EU Commission calls for more smoke-free zones to fight cancer

The European Commission on Tuesday called for more smoke-free areas to protect people from second-hand smoke and to reduce cancer deaths.

"Every year in the EU, 700,000 persons lose their lives due to tobacco consumption, among which tens of thousands are due to second-hand smoke," said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.

"We have a duty to protect our citizens, in particular children and young people, against exposure to harmful smoke and emissions," she added.

The commission wants to see more smoke-free zones established where children and young people gather outdoors, like playgrounds, amusement parks and public swimming pools, a press release said.

Next to traditional cigarettes, the commission recommends that heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes be covered by tobacco-use policies.

Health policy however is a competence of EU member states, meaning that the commission can only come up with recommendations rather than with binding legislation.

According to EU figures, a quarter of cancer deaths in the EU, Iceland and Norway can be attributed to smoking, making tobacco the leading cancer risk.