Protection from tobacco smoke is at the core of a new declaration adopted by the health ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Backed by WHO/Europe, the joint declaration outlines steps to reduce the high prevalence of tobacco use in the subregion and affirms that every person has the right to breathe clean air and be protected from the harms of tobacco.
The Western Balkans declaration includes commitments to eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols from all tobacco, nicotine and non-nicotine products in all indoor public places, workplaces and public transport.
This will be achieved by:
- banning smoking – a comprehensive legislation on smoke- and aerosol-free areas will be developed and implemented;
- stronger law enforcement – existing tobacco control laws will be bolstered with robust evidence-based enforcement mechanisms;
- public awareness – educational programmes and campaigns will highlight the dangers of tobacco use and the benefits of smoke-free environments;
- robust monitoring – a system to monitor and evaluate smoke-free policies and guide further developments will be established; and
- policies free from industry influence – effective tobacco control policies will be protected from tobacco industry interference, given the fundamental conflict between industry interests and those of public health.
Resisting tobacco industry pressure
In 2024, between 21 and 40% of adults in the Western Balkans used tobacco. Every year, tobacco use causes an estimated 34 000 premature deaths from heart disease, stroke, cancer and other noncommunicable diseases.
Progress in lowering those rates has been slow, painting an alarming picture for the entire WHO European Region, which is projected to remain the world’s highest-prevalence region for tobacco use – with prevalence expected to exceed 22% by 2030 – if urgent action is not taken.
“Recent trends are alarming, showing a growing susceptibility to tobacco industry pressure. Governments face significant opposition from industry actors employing economic arguments and sophisticated lobbying tactics to undermine tobacco control efforts. We must confront this challenge head-on. We must remain strong in our resolve to counter these tactics with robust policies that curb tobacco use,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
Collaborating for a tobacco-free future
The declaration calls for the establishment of a dedicated platform for information exchange and joint action that will foster cooperation across the Western Balkans and address shared challenges.
Collaboration and the sharing of best practices are especially important to prevent the tobacco industry from influencing tobacco control policies. This means upholding a key principle of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): keeping business interests out of the decision-making processes that strive to improve health and well-being for future generations.
The Western Balkans’ commitment to the new declaration marks a crucial step towards a tobacco-free vision in the WHO European Region and beyond. Stronger tobacco control measures will not only improve health regionally and globally, but also drive progress towards many other SDGs, including those connected to economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate justice and peace.