Europe wide smoke ban proposed

The EU could become a "smoke-free zone" with a Europe-wide smoking ban if proposals by the European Commission go ahead.

The Commission wants the rest of the EU to follow the lead of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales which have all banned smoking in public places.

Partial bans apply elsewhere - and a partial ban in France starts this week - but EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said he wants a comprehensive ban on smoking in all public places in the EU by 2009.

Member states are being asked to step up their own measures, but the EU's 27 countries are being warned Europe-wide legislation may be imposed.

Conservative MEP John Bowis said the EU should avoid legislating on smoking. He said: "Europe should butt out on enforcing smoke-free zones across member states with more heavy-handed legislation."

"As usual, Europe is at its best when it shares good practice. It enables us to learn from and, when appropriate, emulate one another."

The Irish ban came into force in March 2004, followed by Scotland in March last year. Complete smoke-free legislation will be in force in Northern Ireland, England and Wales by summer this year.

The Commission says that about one third of the EU's 480 million population still smokes - almost 38 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women.