Brussels, 5 February 2026 – The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) warns that the European Commission’s “Better Regulation” agenda is drifting away from its purpose by sidelining the very citizens it claims to serve and using consultations as rubber stamps instead of evidence to guide policymaking. In its contribution to the Commission’s call for evidence, WVA stresses that citizens must remain at the heart of EU lawmaking and be given a real, practical chance to shape rules that directly affect their lives.

“Thousands of citizens take time to respond to EU consultations in good faith, yet when their views do not match the Commission’s political line, they are often dismissed or portrayed as illegitimate,” aldus Alberto Gómez Hernández, beleidsmanager bij de World Vapers' Alliance. “That is no serious public consultation; it is box‑ticking. If the Commission wants trust, it must start by respecting the people it claims to consult.”

Een recente Clearing the Air investigation  revealed how a little‑known NGO has been used to smear ordinary Europeans who responded to the Tobacco Tax Directive consultation, branding their submissions as “fake” or industry‑driven simply because they opposed the Commission’s approach. This narrative was then cited to justify ignoring thousands of critical responses, effectively treating public opinion as an obstacle rather than a resource for better policy.

“It is deeply worrying to see citizens who followed all the rules and used official EU channels portrayed as puppets just because they disagreed,” voegde Gómez Hernández toe. “Consultations should guide policymaking, not be weaponised against the people who take part in them.”

In its submission, WVA calls for concrete reforms to restore trust and make the “Better Regulation” initiative live up to its name, including stricter safeguards against bypassing consultation steps, greater transparency around exemptions and impact assessments, and a clear obligation for the Commission to show how its proposals reflect the evidence and the views expressed by citizens.