NICOSIA, Feb 4 (AFP) - EU Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou said Friday that he would like to see continent-wide introduction of tough restrictions on smoking like those in force in Ireland and Italy but admitted he lacked the powers.
Kyprianou said he "completely backed" bans on smoking in all enclosed public places like those adopted in the two EU member countries.
"I encourage this but I can't impose legislation," said the EU health and consumer protection chief.
"It is a question of protecting the non-smokers whom, however strange it may seem, make up a very large majority in the member states."
Kyprianou, who is Cyprus's first representative on the EU executive since the island's accession to the enlarged 25-nation bloc in May last year, said he was disappointed by the "high percentage of smokers" in his homeland.
He also complained of a lack of "satisfactory" statistics on smoking-related diseases in Cyprus and held out the possibility of EU funding for such research.
"There is a capability given by the health programme of my services to fund studies and research on cancer and other diseases connected to smoking," he told reporters after talks with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.
Kyprianou revealed that he had pressed both Papadopoulous and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to set an example by giving up smoking themselves.
"I hope they both adopt my suggestion," he said, adding that the Cyprus president had at least managed to forego a cigarette for the duration of their meeting.
02/04/2005 18:51 GMT - AFP