DE: Determined Stance By Germans

The German government has re-affirmed its implacable opposition to the EC tobacco ad ban. The government has indicated that if the directive is adopted on 4 December, it will challenge the legal base on the grounds of adequacy and proportionality and in respect of the European Convention on Human Rights. It has recalled with approval the opinion of the Council’s Legal Service in 1993 (which stated that the legal base used by the Commission was legally inappropriate), and will be making its position clear to other national governments. The ZAW (the German advertising association) has also called on advertising and media associations to acknowledge and support the German position.