Phantom Diablo
Achiever
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2013
- Messages
- 3,087
just got this today after i had fired off an email a couple of weeks ago to Martin Schulz which was CC'ed to several other MEP's and the like
the reply is as follows
Thank you for copying me in to your correspondence with Martin Schulz. I am very grateful to you, and to many others, who have taken the time to lobby Mr Schulz regarding e-cigarettes.
I have been following this file on behalf of the Conservatives. Since the beginning of this process I have been convinced of the merits of e-cigarettes, and the significant benefits that they offer to public health.
With this in mind, when my colleagues and I were able to rally the rest of the Parliament to support us in changing the original text relating to e-cigarettes, we were delighted. However, when it came to negotiating with the Council and Commission, many other groups agreed to sacrifice the Parliament's flexible approach to e-cigarettes, in favour of the Council's highly limited approach.
Before the Directive as a whole comes before the Parliament for a final vote on February 26th, we are doing our utmost to persuade Mr Schulz to allow the text to be opened to splits and separates (as you request) so that this unfair treatment of e-cigarettes can be properly addressed.
The original purpose of the Tobacco Products Directive was to reducing smoking in Europe, especially with regard to young people. Therefore to highly limit access to a device which is proven to help people give up tobacco is ridiculous. The negotiations were rushed, and the authenticity of evidence presented in favour of making e-cigarettes medicinal products has since been called in to question. All in all this makes a very unsatisfactory situation.
I would therefore like to thank you for voicing your concerns for Mr Schulz, and calling for the TPD Plenary vote to be opened up to splits and separates. I truly hope that he sees sense in his decision, and enables us to try and get a fair outcome for e-cigarettes.
Yours Sincerely,
Martin Callanan
Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the North East
Leader, European Conservatives and Reformists Group
the reply is as follows
Thank you for copying me in to your correspondence with Martin Schulz. I am very grateful to you, and to many others, who have taken the time to lobby Mr Schulz regarding e-cigarettes.
I have been following this file on behalf of the Conservatives. Since the beginning of this process I have been convinced of the merits of e-cigarettes, and the significant benefits that they offer to public health.
With this in mind, when my colleagues and I were able to rally the rest of the Parliament to support us in changing the original text relating to e-cigarettes, we were delighted. However, when it came to negotiating with the Council and Commission, many other groups agreed to sacrifice the Parliament's flexible approach to e-cigarettes, in favour of the Council's highly limited approach.
Before the Directive as a whole comes before the Parliament for a final vote on February 26th, we are doing our utmost to persuade Mr Schulz to allow the text to be opened to splits and separates (as you request) so that this unfair treatment of e-cigarettes can be properly addressed.
The original purpose of the Tobacco Products Directive was to reducing smoking in Europe, especially with regard to young people. Therefore to highly limit access to a device which is proven to help people give up tobacco is ridiculous. The negotiations were rushed, and the authenticity of evidence presented in favour of making e-cigarettes medicinal products has since been called in to question. All in all this makes a very unsatisfactory situation.
I would therefore like to thank you for voicing your concerns for Mr Schulz, and calling for the TPD Plenary vote to be opened up to splits and separates. I truly hope that he sees sense in his decision, and enables us to try and get a fair outcome for e-cigarettes.
Yours Sincerely,
Martin Callanan
Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the North East
Leader, European Conservatives and Reformists Group
