SFP organises its third Coalition Meeting open to all its partners from all over Europe. The policy topic of this year's meeting will be Tobacco Taxation- Article 6 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Regarding implementation of FCTC Art. 6, excise duties for tobacco products in the EU are mainly regulated through Council Directive 2011/64/EU on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco, the so-called Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD). The European Commission is considering revising the TTD and there was a Public Consultation in February 2017. DG TAXUD will present a report to the Council and the European Parliament before the end of the year or early 2018. Based on the reactions, DG TAXUD will proceed with an impact assessment. These preliminary discussions on the possible revision of the Tobacco Tax Directive are likely to take place in the taxation related fora and it is of the utmost importance that the tobacco control community, in partnership with public health authorities, ensure that health considerations are properly considered in order to use this powerful tool for tobacco control purposes.