The EU commission states that employers, who do not want to employ smokers, may openly say so when advertising a vacancy.

The EU commission thus confirms a statement by the EU commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, who answered a parliamentary inquiry by Catherine Stihler, a British member of the EU parliament. Spidla wrote that any discrimination on grounds of religion, origin, age, disability or sexual preferences is prohibited by the EU's anti-discrimination rules. These would, however, not extend to smokers. (pi)