Strasbourg, 18 June 2026. The European Parliament rejected the European Commission’s plan to establish minimum excise tax rates on vapes, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products. In two sequential votes on the revision of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), MEPs first rejected the ECON committee’s amended raport, and then rejected the Commission’s propunere outright.

The ECON report authored by Czech MEP Tomáš Kubín, which proposed lower excise duties than the Commission’s original proposal and enshrined a “less harm, lower tax” principle was rejected by the narrowest of margins: 308 in favour, 320  against. The Commission’s original proposal, put to the vote immediately after, was rejected by an overwhelming margin of 439 votes to 181.

Michael Landl, directorul Alianței Mondiale a Vaperilor, a declarat: “This vote is a clear rejection of the European Commission’s misguided attempt to impose higher taxes on reduced-risk nicotine products. Higher taxes on vapes, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products would make it harder for millions of Europeans to switch away from smoking. Taxation should reflect relative risk and encourage smokers to move to less harmful alternatives.”

The rejection of Kubin’s ECON report was driven by a contradictory coalition. The Rassemblement National (RN), the largest delegation within Kubin’s own Patriots for Europe group, sided with socialists and liberals to reject Kubin’s report. Jordan Bardella, RN president and PfE group leader, had a anunţat the decision the previous day, explicitly citing opposition to new taxation on vaping products.

“The European Parliament has shown that it is far closer to a risk-based approach to nicotine regulation than the European Commission. There was a clear majority against imposing new EU-wide minimum taxes on reduced-risk products, and member states should take note of this message as negotiations move forward. The final directive must reflect risk, not revenue targets,” Landl a adăugat.

As Council negotiations resume in July under the Irish Presidency, the World Vapers’ Alliance will continue to engage with Member States, MEPs and EU institutions to ensure the final Tobacco Excise Directive supports harm reduction and protects access to affordable alternatives to smoking for millions of European citizens.