Inside EU Health: Tobacco tax standoff and EU provides a boost to vaccine production in Africa
EU ministers split over tobacco tax reforms, the EU invested €190M in African vaccine production, and a report warned of a growing European health workforce crisis
Tobacco Standoff: EU finance ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss the European Commission’s proposed revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive — the first major update since 2010. It became clear in the live discussion that member states are unlikely to let the revision go through in its current form.
Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra warned that vaping is being “deliberately targeted at kids” and called for firm action to prevent the industry from repeating past tactics.
Swedish snus: Back in 1955 when Sweden was joining the EU, it negotiated a permanent exemption from the EU-wide ban on the sale of snus. This was a key condition for membership, Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson is still fighting its corner, arguing that since it is less harmful, it should not be taxed like tobacco.
Border nations, in particular, cautioned that higher prices could increase illicit tobacco trade. Despite these concerns, the Danish Council Presidency reaffirmed that protecting public health remains the central goal.
Ministers also weighed the idea of creating a “Tobacco Excise Duty Own Resource,” which would allocate part of national tobacco tax revenues to the EU budget — another proposal likely to face resistance in future talks. Read the full story here.
Boost to African vaccine production: The European Union is investing €190 million to boost Africa’s capacity to produce vaccines, medicines, and essential health technologies. Announced at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, the plan aims to cut Africa’s reliance on imports and improve access to life-saving products after COVID-19 exposed severe supply gaps. Africa still imports 99% of its vaccines and up to 90% of its medicines. As a result, during the pandemic, Africa received less than 2% of global vaccine supplies. Read more here.
Europe’s Health Workforce Emergency: In a European Parliament report commissioned by the Public Health Committee (SANT) the alarm is sounded for Europe’s deepening health and care workforce crisi, with ageing staff, growing shortages of doctors and nurses, and worsening working conditions threatening the sustainability of healthcare systems. The study calls for urgent EU-wide action to rebuild the sector through better pay, gender equality, investment in education and digital skills, and stronger protection for workers’ well-being.
It urges a co-ordinated ‘European Health Workforce Strategy’ to transform healthcare delivery, strengthen community-based care, and make the system resilient against future shocks. Read the report here.