ANALYSIS: Ireland is chairing the EU Council of Ministers for six months, during which several major decisions on tobacco and nicotine are on the agenda. At the same time, the country is working on its own far-reaching regulations for e-cigarettes – regulations that have already met with objections from other Member States. VapeTjek takes a closer look at how the Irish Presidency might influence this autumn’s negotiations.
Ireland has taken over the presidency of the EU Council of Ministers at a time when the Union is facing far-reaching changes to the rules on tobacco and nicotine. Over the autumn, Member States are to seek to make progress on new minimum excise duties on, amongst other things, e-cigarettes and nicotine products, whilst the European Commission continues its work on a review of the tobacco regulations.
At the same time, Ireland itself is set to introduce far-reaching restrictions on e-cigarettes – measures that have already met with opposition from other Member States.
Since 1 July, Ireland has been leading the work of the EU Council of Ministers. The Presidency will last until the end of the year and means, amongst other things, that Irish ministers will chair Council meetings and work to advance the EU’s legislative process.
This is taking place during an exceptionally important six-month period for European nicotine policy. Two major processes are taking place simultaneously. One concerns the EU’s common taxes on tobacco and new nicotine products. The other concerns the forthcoming revision of the so-called Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which, amongst other things, regulates e-cigarettes.
For users of e-cigarettes, snus and nicotine pouches, the changes could have a significant impact.
New minimum charges on the way
In July 2025, the European Commission presented a proposal to amend the EU’s rules on excise duties on tobacco. Among other things, the proposal means that e-liquids, nicotine pouches and other new nicotine products will, for the first time, be subject to common minimum excise duties at EU level.
However, the proposal has met with considerable resistance amongst the Member States. In June, the Cypriot EU Presidency was unable to get the Member States to agree on a compromise, and the matter was therefore referred to the Irish Presidency.
According to Eunews The issue was removed from the agenda at a meeting of EU finance ministers after the Member States were unable to reach an agreement. As this type of tax issue requires unanimity in the Council of Ministers, a single Member State can, in practice, block a proposal.
Ireland will therefore be tasked with trying to find a compromise between countries that want significantly higher nicotine taxes and those that oppose parts of the proposal.
New Tobacco Products Directive on the way
At the same time, the European Commission is continuing its work on a revision of the so-called Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).
The current directive dates from 2014 and regulates, amongst other things, the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. In April 2026, the European Commission published its evaluation of the directive and the wider European regulatory framework for tobacco.
Among other things, the evaluation highlights new challenges arising from the emergence and increasing use of new tobacco and nicotine products. The Commission is now continuing its work on revising the rules.
It is not yet clear what a forthcoming bill will contain. However, the evaluation shows that the EU is considering a significantly broader regulatory framework for tobacco and nicotine products than the current one.
Autumn could therefore mark the start of a process that, in the longer term, will change the rules governing e-cigarettes and other nicotine products across the EU.
Ireland will go far on home turf
At the same time, Ireland has its own agenda when it comes to nicotine.
In July, the Irish Parliament passed a bill which, amongst other things, regulates the flavours and design of e-cigarette products. The Irish Government has previously described the proposal as part of a wider effort to curb nicotine use amongst young people.
Among other things, the proposal imposes restrictions on the flavour descriptions that may be used and on how e-cigarette products may be presented. Ireland has also previously decided to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes.
However, the Irish legislation has already prompted objections from other EU countries.
At the end of July, both Italy and Greece lodged formal objections to the Irish legislation through the EU’s so-called TRIS system. These objections mean that the consideration of the Irish rules will be extended whilst the proposal is scrutinised at EU level.
According to Tobacco Reporter Irish legislation covers, amongst other things, flavour restrictions, rules on product names and standardised packaging, as well as rules on how products may be displayed in shops and online.
The extended review period runs until 7 October.
Should bring the countries together – not dictate
Over the autumn, Ireland will seek to bring the Member States closer together in the negotiations on the new EU taxes. At the same time, the European Commission is continuing its work on revising the tobacco regulations. In parallel, Ireland is seeking to implement stricter rules on e-cigarettes at home.
Ireland cannot decide on its own which rules the EU should introduce. The Presidency’s role is to chair the meetings, drive the work forward and try to find compromises between the Member States.
It will not necessarily be a straightforward task. During the negotiations, several Member States have held differing views on both tax levels and how new nicotine products should be treated in comparison with traditional tobacco products. As changes to the EU’s tax rules require unanimity in the Council of Ministers, all Member States must be able to accept the final compromise.
When a new Tobacco Products Directive is presented, a separate legislative process begins, during which both the Member States and the European Parliament have a say in the final rules.
The coming months may therefore mark the start of a new European debate on how e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and other smoke-free nicotine products should be regulated.
