EU's Champions League: Sweden, Czech Republic, and Greece Score Big Against Smoking
BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brussels turned into a Champions League arena for harm reduction as the World Vapers' Alliance (WVA) staged a trophy ceremony in front of the European Parliament, celebrating the real winners in the fight against smoking. Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece took centre stage, hoisting the 'Champions of Change' trophy for their remarkable victories in reducing smoking rates—while EU policymakers watched from the sidelines.
'Brussels is obsessed with prohibition and ignores the evidence right in front of them. Lives are being lost because the EU refuses to follow the science,' said WVA Director Michael Landl as he handed over the trophies. 'Instead of learning from countries that are saving lives, the EU is making life harder for smokers who want to quit.'
Sweden claimed the top spot, becoming the world's first officially smoke-free nation with just 4.5% of Swedish-born adults smoking—a rate five times lower than the European average and achieved 16 years ahead of the EU's own target. The Czech Republic and Greece also took home silverware, having cut smoking rates by 23% and 14% respectively in the last three years through pragmatic, harm reduction-focused strategies.
But while the champions celebrated on the podium, EU leaders remained stuck in the locker room. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, ahead of Ireland's EU Council Presidency next year, outrageously claimed that vaping is as bad as the smoking phenomenon—signalling a worrying direction for future policy. WVA Policy Manager Alberto Gómez Hernández warned, 'The EU's refusal to recognise these achievements is a disservice to millions of Europeans who deserve better options to quit smoking.'
With Commissioner Varhelyi confirming that the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) will be revised this term, the WVA urged Brussels to stop missing open goals and start following the lead of Europe's true champions—before more lives are lost off the pitch.
Contact:Michael Landl info@worldvapersalliance.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bbfa1fa8-6626-4643-917a-29d5673129edSign in to access your portfolio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Andrée Jeglertz appointed as Man City head coach
Manchester City have today appointed Andrée Jeglertz as their new head coach. The 53-year-old former Swedish international will make the move to Manchester after departing his role with the Danish national side. Signing a four-year deal, Andrée Jeglertz will join up with Manchester City following the conclusion of this summer's Euros. Advertisement Jeglertz boasts a strong background in women's football. He won the UEFA Women's Cup (now the Champions League) with Umeå IK in 2004 and led the team to two more finals in 2007 and 2008. During his time there, Umeå also won four league titles and the Swedish Cup. He later spent time managing in the men's game with Djurgårdens IF. In 2010, he took charge of Finland's women's national team, helping them qualify for the 2013 Euros — only the third time in their history — and was named Finnish Manager of the Year in 2012. More recently, he managed Linköpings FC before taking over Denmark after the 2023 World Cup. Under his leadership, Denmark finished second in their Euro qualifying group behind World Champions Spain. They'll face Germany, Poland, and Sweden in Group C this summer. 'The Club is one of the biggest in the world' Speaking on his appointment Jeglertz said 'I'm honoured to be part of this big and great Club, but also excited to get started. I'm really looking forward to it. The Club is one of the biggest in the world. But also the way Therese and Charlotte are presenting the Club. What does it stand for, what do you want from a coach and everything that's connected to football? But there are a lot of things around the Club that make me excited about the job.' Andrée Jeglertz signs for Manchester City as the new Women's Manager at Manchester City Academy on June 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Declan Lloyd/Manchester City FC) Advertisement He continued, 'I think the most important thing for me is to, first of all, how do I maximise the players? What kind of players do we have? What is the philosophy of the Club? And then of course my own philosophy to have a combination of those things. That is what you will see with the team. For me, of course, this team requires a lot of attacking game, a fluent game like we are talking about. But when we don't have the ball, to quickly as possible, and as high up as possible to win the ball back. I would like to control the games and with the ball mostly, and I think with this squad there are a lot of good opportunities for that.' The new City boss was however brutally honest about the sides disappointing 2024/25 campaign. 'There are a lot of things that I think are already very good. The attacking game is very direct in some parts; you're creating a lot of goals. But we need to be better in finding ways to do it in different ways, so we're not just attacking in one way. But also talking about the defending, there are things in watching the games that we can improve. I need to put in more detail of those things. I need to talk about the evaluation from the coaching staff and from the Club in total. What are the things they have seen. After that, add my own ideas.' Related articles from Her Football Hub:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Julie Vanloo signs with Sparks after being suddenly waived by Valkyries, will play vs Liberty
Days after being waived by the Golden State Valkyries, Julie Vanloo is getting another chance. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Sparks signed the Belgian guard, just ahead of the team's away game against the New York Liberty. Vanloo was waived by the Valkyries on Monday, after being away from the team for the EuroBasket tournament as part of Team Belgium. Vanloo and Belgium triumphed over Spain in the EuroBasket final on Sunday; one day later, as she returned to Golden State, she was waived. Advertisement Now, she will get a fresh start with the Sparks. Within 40 minutes of the announcement, Vanloo was seen warming up ahead the game. Vanloo, 32, had a long career in Europe before joining the Washington Mystics in 2024. She was then selected by the Valkyries in the 2025 expansion draft. Vanloo had limited time on the court for Golden State prior to being waived., averaging 4.6 points and 4.1 assists per game, and averaging 20 minutes. In a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, Vanloo laid out the complex series of emotions that came with being waived. The Belgian guard said that she missed out on celebrating the victory with her team in order to return to the Bay area as soon as possible, but that she had been waived "1 hour upon arrival." "Honestly, that stung. I understand it's business, but nothing prepares you for the loneliness that comes with getting cut. It feels like the whole world suddenly crashes on your shoulders," Vanloo wrote. "When it hurts this much to be waived, it means it was something truly special to be part of and I'm forever grateful for that," she added later in the post. "Right now, I'm overwhelmed with emotion and just need a little time to process it all." When asked by reporters about Vanloo on Wednesday, Nakase defended the manner in which Vanloo was waived. Advertisement "From my perspective, I thought it was respectful because whenever a situation like that happens, you bring them in and as an adult you say thanks face to face," Nakase said, via ClutchPoints' Kenzo Fukuda. Vanloo will be a welcome addition to the Sparks, who are 11th in the league with a 5-12 record. Though the guard will likely still come off the bench, Vanloo will be a veteran presence in the backcourt alongside Kelsey Plum, and a complement to forwards Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Julie Vanloo finds new home with Los Angeles after getting cut by Golden State earlier in week
NEW YORK (AP) — Julie Vanloo stood outside Barclays Center waiting the final minutes to clear waivers. She had flown to New York a day earlier after getting cut by the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday. When the clcok struck 5, she walked into the arena and joined her new team, the Los Angeles Sparks. Advertisement It has been a rollercoaster week for the 32-year-old, who helped Belgium win the EuroBasket ttile. She skipped the celebration in Belgium to fly back to San Francisco to rejoin the Valkyries only to be waived an hour after her arrival. 'To hear 1 hour upon arrival: we have to waive you. Honestly, that stung. I understand it's business, but nothing prepares you for the loneliness that comes with getting cut," she said on social media. 'It feels like the whole world suddenly crashes on your shoulders.' The Sparks were happy to add her, giving the team another talented guard. 'I'm so happy, so excited for her,' said Sparks guard Julie Allemand, who played on the Belgium team with Vanloo . 'First of all, happy to have her in the team. She's going to help us a lot, but happy for her because, like, the last days were crazy for her.' Advertisement Allemand said she had been talking to her friend all week and had hoped the Sparks would pick her up after she was cut. She was texting with Vanloo in the final minutes leading up to her joining the team. It takes 48 hours for players to clear waivers. 'It was crazy because, like, we were in the locker room and we were waiting for her,' Allemand said. 'Like she was waiting outside.' Sparks first-year coach Lynne Roberts was thrilled to get Vanloo. In the preseason she torched the Sparks for four 3-pointers in a what felt like under 2 minutes. 'When we heard that the Valkyries had waived her, I immediately said to our GM, let's see if we can get her,' Roberts said. Advertisement The coach wasn't sure how much if at all Vanloo would play against the Liberty on Thursday night. 'Safe to say, she's not familiar with the playbook quite yet,' Roberts said. 'But, you know, we'll see. I'd like to get her out there just a little bit.' ___ AP WNBA: Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
