TAE has warned the EU ahead of COP11: no radical measures that jeopardise European taxpayers, SMEs and economic stability.
The European Taxpayers’ Association (TAE) expresses deep concern regarding the European Commission’s draft mandate for COP11 (Conference of the Parties) under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Under the guise of health policy, the Commission is pursuing a radical agenda that threatens to destroy the ‘Made in Europe’ value chain, undermines the rights of Member States, drives up unemployment and harms local businesses, whilst at the same time placing a massive burden on taxpayers and the most vulnerable sections of the population.
“The EU Commission’s actions leave me stunned and angry. This regulatory frenzy is completely incomprehensible. It threatens to destroy an entire industry and drive it into the shadow economy,” said President Michael Jäger. “This frontal assault on small and medium-sized enterprises must be stopped,” Jäger continued.
Background:
COP11 is the eleventh official meeting of the states (known as “Parties”) that have signed or ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in their member states. Accordingly, the WHO and the COP have legal implications for the EU and its member states. It will take place from 17 to 22 November 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. At COP11, the states will discuss and vote on new global control measures for tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including:
- A ban on cigarette filters
- A radical reduction in the number of retail outlets selling tobacco and nicotine products
- Adults born after a certain date will no longer be permitted to purchase tobacco and nicotine products.
Why is the COP so rarely mentioned in the media?
The COP meets behind closed doors and lacks transparency, as participation is restricted to carefully selected delegates. This makes it one of the global yet opaque political forums. Media accreditation is subject to strict controls, which deliberately complicates the process. As a result, media representatives and other interested parties are excluded from attending the meetings. Documents are often only published after decisions have been made, and real-time access to the negotiations is not possible.
What role will the EU play?
The EU itself, together with its Member States, is a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This means that both the EU and the individual Member States will participate in COP11, but will speak with one voice rather than individually.
This requires coordination and the adoption of a common EU position in the run-up to the COP.
The spokesperson and the EU mandate, which determines the EU’s voting behaviour during the COP, are proposed by the European Commission and confirmed by the EU Member States at Council level. Negotiations and consultations with representatives of European countries therefore take place during the COP only on new items or proposed amendments.
The meeting to present and vote on the European Commission’s draft will take place on 9 October 2025.
Call to action!
It is right and important that the EU pursues the protection of public health as a common goal. However, it should at all costs avoid promoting such radical and harmful measures. These would ultimately only lead to a shift in consumption into the shadow economy and massive tax losses. At the same time, they would jeopardise economic growth in Europe, budgetary discipline and the interests of taxpayers in the EU.
The European Taxpayers’ Association therefore calls for:
- Transparent and comprehensive impact assessments for all new measures.
- Protection of the rights of European taxpayers, particularly the most vulnerable groups in society.
- The protection of legitimate businesses and jobs that contribute to public finances.
- The reduction of bureaucracy and excessive regulatory measures – no additional burdens on taxpayers and SMEs.
- Respect for the sovereignty of Member States and democratic processes.
What is at stake for taxpayers?
- Over a million jobs and billions in tax revenue are at risk. The sector concerned contributes significantly to the EU’s GDP, comparable to that of a medium-sized Member State.
- The proposed measures will strain public finances, reduce tax revenue and force governments to tap into new sources of revenue. It is therefore foreseeable that the tax shortfalls will be offset by tax increases elsewhere.
- The Commission’s approach carries the risk of higher costs for consumers, reduced purchasing power and rising inflation, which will hit the most vulnerable groups hardest.
A dangerous precedent: fiscal and democratic risks
The European Commission appears to be exploiting the outcomes of COP11 as ‘global commitments’ to put pressure on the EU Council and Parliament and persuade them to adopt measures that are democratically questionable. Specifically, the aim is to water down the revision of the TPD/TED without debate or a proper impact assessment. This borders on an abuse of power and undermines sovereignty, democratic legitimacy and fiscal transparency. International forums must not be misused to bypass national parliaments and the interests of taxpayers.
COP11 – Impact on taxpayers
- Decline in retail businesses
- Thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises, often family-run, licensed businesses, are threatened with insolvency, job losses and falling tax revenues.
- The elimination of legal retailers leaves the market to criminals and undermines public order and tax revenue.
- Ban on incentives for retailers
- Incentives for retailers ensure the survival of small shops. Their abolition would drive many, particularly in rural areas, into insolvency and further weaken the local economy and tax base.
- Ban on cigarette filters
- This measure ignores existing EU law and workable solutions. A ban on filters will not improve public health, but will disrupt legal markets, reduce tax revenue and encourage the illegal trade.
- Ban on generational sales
- This is an age-based sales ban, leading to the absurdity that, for example, one must be 30 years old to buy tobacco products, yet is permitted to vote in democratic elections from the age of 18.
- This patronising measure is doomed to fail and will fuel the illicit trade, reduce legal sales and cost governments billions in tax revenue. Ultimately, taxpayers will bear the cost.
FCTC Protocol:
The European Commission’s proposal to endorse the key provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has been leaked:
Brussels/Munich, 8 October 2025
Rudolf G. Maier, Press Officer