This is revealed by the organization Corporate Europe Observatory, CEO, which, in connection with the directive coming into force on May 20, published new information about the tobacco industry's massive lobbying activities, based on leaked documents from Philip Morris.
CEO is a serious research and campaign group that has taken it upon itself to expose the influence that large companies and their lobby groups have in the legislative work of the EU Parliament.
The extent of lobbying during the revision of the directive was revealed when the first leaks from Philip Morris International, PMI, in 2012 revealed that the company hired 161 lobbyists to influence MEPs and EU Commission officials. The documents provide a unique insight into the strategy used to stop, weaken or delay work on the Tobacco Products Directive.
Most MEPs found the persistent lobbying to be disruptive and annoying, while others were prepared to do the industry's bidding. One of these was the Moderates' Christofer Fjellner, who made no secret of his desire to lift the export ban on Swedish snus within the EU.
His role in supporting the tobacco industry was considerably greater than that, at least according to Philip Morris' own records.
It is said about Fjellner: ongoing contacts, pro-tobacco on six issues, described as a key player in the snus debate, extensive list of tobacco-related initiatives in parliament.
The six “pro-tobacco” questions are about standardized cigarette packages, larger health warnings, exposure bans, additives, new products and snus.
Fjellner is one of the ten that Philip Morris gives “highest priority.” He is one of seven of these with the “blue” designation, which marks them as receptive to the tobacco industry’s arguments.
One route that lobbyists choose if they fail to reach politicians directly is to use third parties. This was the tactic that was considered the only possible way to try to reach Carl Schlyter of the Swedish Green Party, who was appointed as the so-called shadow rapporteur in the Parliament's Green Group in the work on the Tobacco Products Directive.
He was reported to be “interested in tobacco policy in general, but not in technical details. So far not particularly open to meetings with the tobacco industry.” Therefore, the only option was to hire a representative.
Carl Schlyter tells Tobaksfakta that the information about him is from 2011, before he was appointed shadow rapporteur. In connection with this, he clearly stated that he did not want to have anything to do with tobacco industry lobbyists.
– After that, I was red-flagged in their actions, he says.
In a comment via email, Christofer Fjellner comments on the information about him as follows:
– The fact that I have fought for Swedish snus can hardly come as news and is no secret. I am not ashamed of that, but rather proud of it.
– This is an important issue not only for those who use snus, but also for all those who work at Swedish snus factories in, for example, Gothenburg and Sävsjö.
– It is rather strange that more politicians do not stand up for an issue that is important to many in Sweden.
