Media

The EU Regulatory Observatory’s latest assessment gives the European Commission’s SME Relief Package a lukewarm 6.57/10 for liberalisation. Despite promises of a 25% cut in reporting burdens via sandboxes and voluntary measures, Brussels Report highlights new bureaucratic layers and a failure to tackle the 729% regulatory explosion since Maastricht. The analysis warns that cosmetic tweaks and selective exemptions fall far short of the bold deregulation Europe needs to close the competitiveness gap with the US and China.

KEFIM, featured in Proto Thema, cites an EPICENTER study showing Greece’s tobacco black market at 25%, fourth highest in Europe, driven by tax hikes boosting illegal trade by 5-12% per euro. Factors include weak enforcement and proximity to low-price countries, not just affordability.

KEFIM, featured in Iefimerida, highlights an EPICENTER study showing Greece’s tobacco black market at 25%, fourth highest in Europe. The report links this to tax hikes boosting illegal trade by 5-12% per euro, citing weak enforcement and border issues beyond just price.

EPICENTER, featured in Economie Matin, criticizes the EU’s plan to raise tobacco taxes and introduce TEDOR (€11.2 billion/year), arguing it boosts the illegal market by 5-12% per €1 excise hike. The think tank opposes taxing safer alternatives like vaping, citing Sweden’s lower smoking rates, while slamming the €2 trillion budget expansion.

Gabriel Hawryluk of FOR, featured in XYZ, reports Poland ranks 8th in EPICENTER’s 2025 Nanny State Index, second in food regulation due to energy drink bans and sugar taxes, and tightening nicotine controls with a 90% e-liquid tax hike by 2027. The index finds no health benefit correlation, advocating economic growth over restrictions.

Adrian Nikolov of the Institute for Market Economics, featured on Darik Radio’s "More on the Topic," argues that a slight cigarette price hike, like 50 stotinki per pack, won’t reduce smoking but will boost treasury revenue. He notes a growing gray market due to cheaper imports from neighboring countries

EPICENTER’s Adam Bartha, featured in Tobacco Reporter, critiques the EU’s revised Tobacco Taxation Directive and TEDOR (€11.2 billion/year), arguing they increase tax burdens on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, contradicting Ursula von der Leyen’s goal of reducing regulatory pressures, without curbing smoking.

Martin Pánek of the Institute of Liberal Studies, featured on Czech Radio Plus, critiques France’s July 2025 smoking ban on beaches and parks, arguing it’s excessive regulation despite protecting children. He advocates personal responsibility over bans in open spaces, while doctor Kamila Zvolská supports the measure, citing WHO data linking smoking to premature deaths, though both note its limited impact on quitting rates.

Martin Vlachynský of INESS, featured in Hnonline, warns that smokers’ tax contributions, rising from €766 million in 2019 to €1 billion this year, are eyed by the European Commission for its budget, including defense and new programs, not healthcare.