Austria🏛️ PoliticsLean ProgressiveSep 8

One in ten cigarettes on the EU market illegally

Ein Bericht des EU-Rechnungshofs zeigt, dass fast jede zehnte Zigarette in der EU illegal hergestellt oder geschmuggelt wird, was jährlich etwa 13 Milliarden Euro Steuerausfälle verursacht. Die illegale Tabakproduktion ist in der EU gestiegen, und zwar sowohl durch die Verschiebung organisierter krimineller Gruppen aus der Ukraine als auch durch unzureichende internationale Zusammenarbeit. In fast allen EU-Ländern wurden illegale Produktionsstätten entdeckt, darunter auch in Österreich. Der Bericht kritisiert die Uneinheitlichkeit der EU-Regelungen und die mangelnde Durchsetzung von Vorschriften, was kriminelle Gruppen nutzen können. Es gibt keine zentrale europäische Behörde zur Koordination des Kampfs gegen den illegalen Tabakhandel, und die EU-Kommission wird aufgefordert, eine aktiver Rolle zu spielen.

Almost one in ten cigarettes sold in the EU comes from illegal production or smuggling, according to a report presented by the European Court of Auditors on Tuesday. This results in an annual loss of approximately €13 billion in tax revenues. The report highlights a growing trend of illegal tobacco manufacturing across the entire EU, though transnational cooperation and EU-wide strategies to combat this issue remain inadequate. Illegal production sites have been identified in nearly all EU member states, including Austria. The illegal tobacco trade has undergone significant changes in recent years, with organized criminal groups shifting production from Ukraine into the EU to shorten supply chains and bring products closer to consumers. For instance, a large-scale illegal cigarette factory in Belgium was recently dismantled by authorities, operating continuously with machines capable of producing one million cigarettes per hour. Poland recorded the highest number of illegal factories discovered, while Austria ranked in the lower middle range. Only Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, and Finland reported no illegal production sites. Petri Sarvamaa, a member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for reviewing the issue, emphasized that the EU cannot afford to lose the fight against illegal tobacco trade. He stated that both the European Commission and member states need to take stronger actions to curb this criminal activity if they aim to protect citizens' health, money, and safety. While acknowledging efforts over the past decade, the report criticized inconsistent regulations within the EU, particularly regarding factors like raw tobacco and production equipment, as well as new product types such as e-cigarette liquids. The report also noted gaps in enforcement that could be exploited by organized crime groups. Differences in national control systems, definitions of offenses, and severity of penalties create inconsistencies that might encourage criminals to relocate operations to countries with less stringent laws. There is currently no central authority in the EU tasked with coordinating efforts against illegal tobacco trade, prompting calls for the Commission to play a more active role. The auditors recommend creating a comprehensive overview of the illegal tobacco market, better supporting member states, and setting clear strategic goals for EU-level action. Austria, having ratified the key international treaty against unauthorized tobacco trade, demonstrated effective customs work, surpassing the EU average in terms of confiscated goods. In 2025, Austrian authorities seized nearly 20 times more products than the EU average, with a notable amount of tobacco items secured, totaling 8,814,953 cigarettes. These measures not only safeguard financial interests but also protect consumers from health risks associated with illegal tobacco products.

2 reports

oe24IndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 75Sep 8

One in ten cigarettes on the EU market illegally

Bias read (Center): Der Artikel berichtet neutral über ein Problem, das politisch relevant ist, aber keine eindeutige parteiliche Haltung erkennbar macht. Er erwähnt verschiedene EU-Länder und kritisiert sowohl nationale als auch europäische Strukturen, ohne eine klare politische Richtung zu favorisieren. Die Quellen (

Why factuality (90): The article cites a report from the European Court of Auditors, which is a credible primary source. It provides statistics about the prevalence of illegal cigarettes in the EU and mentions specific countries where illegal production has been found. The figures align with the cross-source consensus a

Why objectivity (75): The article presents information in a generally neutral tone but includes quotes from a member of the European Court of Auditors that suggest a particular stance on the issue. This introduces some level of editorializing, reducing objectivity.

Kleine ZeitungParty-alignedProgressiveFactual 85Objective 70Sep 8

EU Court of Auditors: 1 in 10 cigarettes on the EU market is illegal

Ein Bericht des EU-Rechnungshofs zeigt, dass etwa jede zehnte Zigarette in der EU illegal hergestellt oder geschmuggelt wird, was jährlich rund 13 Milliarden Euro an Steuereinnahmen verursacht. Die illegale Tabakproduktion wächst in der EU, während die internationale Zusammenarbeit und EU-weite Maßnahmen zur Bekämpfung dieser Praxis ineffektiv sind. In fast allen EU-Ländern wurden illegale Produktionsstätten identifiziert, darunter auch in Österreich. In den letzten Stunden wurden in Österreich besonders viele illegale Zigaretten sichergestellt.

Bias read (Progressive): Der Artikel betont die steuerliche Auswirkung der illegalen Zigarettenproduktion und kritisiert die mangelnde Effektivität der EU-weiten Kampagnen. Der Fokus liegt auf der Verantwortung der EU und der nationalen Behörden, was eine eher progressivistische oder kritische Haltung gegenüber der politikb

Why factuality (85): This article also references the same report from the European Court of Auditors and repeats similar statistics. It confirms the claim that nearly every tenth cigarette in the EU is illegal, supporting the cross-source consensus. However, it appears to have incomplete text at the end, which might af

Why objectivity (70): While the content is largely factual, the article seems to include promotional or biased language such as 'Kleine Zeitung als bevorzugte Google-Quelle hinzufügen' which suggests a preference for this source over others, indicating potential bias.

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One in ten cigarettes on the EU market illegally

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