← home page • Buzz@Bruss! Edition #5
At a time of increasing tensions and uncertainty around the world, close cooperation between Japan and the EU has never been so important. Recently, Buzz@Bruss! got the opportunity to meet with the Ambassador of Japan to the European Union, H.E. Mr. Kazutoshi Aikawa, and ask him a few questions about the Japan-EU relationship and his thoughts for the future.
the interview
Lately, the European Council adopted recommendations urging member states to expand smoke- and aerosol-free environment policies to cover, in essence, all spaces of public life. At its most absurd, the proposal even explicitly declares the zoo a smoke and aerosol free zone!
The decision is a further intrusion into individual freedoms and lifestyle choices. And not only did the Council overstep on personal liberties but actually it has also been skipping homework and ignoring evidence.
Aligned with the EU Green Deal’s ambition to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050, the EU Sustainable Finance Framework is designed to enhance transparency and steer investments toward industries’ sustainable transformation.
JTI’s Dr Alona Bekh, outlines the key challenges of the Framework and argues that the exclusion of the tobacco industry from sustainable activities not only sets a dangerous precedent but will also be counterproductive to the achievement of the EU’s overall sustainability objectives.
her detailed analysis and conclusions
2FIRSTS | Scientific Solutions for Tobacco Harm Reduction
Ian Jones, Vice President of the R&D Scientific Product Assessment Center at JTI, explains the company’s approach to advancing tobacco harm reduction (THR) and the evolving landscape of reduced-risk products (RRP). The interview complements the scientific angle of the earlier article in Buzz@Bruss! #2.
Latvian authorities dismantle massive illegal cigarette factory | Europol
The growing trend in illicit tobacco: More and more illegal factories are found within the EU borders. For more background on the drivers of illegal tobacco trade read also the study by Alvarez & Marsal together with JTI.
Better regulation, so badly named…
Issue #2 of the ‘EU Governance Inquirer’ is fully devoted to critiquing the EU’s Better Regulation principles – a topic which has also been addressed in our last edition.
Your thoughts matter to us! Are there any issues you want us to address and write about?
Get in touch: EUAffairs@jti.com
