29/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - Burson-Marsteller denies conducting any tobacco lobbying. The communications agency Burson-Marsteller has reacted to the article published by Polish magazine Uwazam Rze on 26 August, claiming possible pressure from one of its advisers, David Harley, on Linda McAvan (S&D, UK) who is the rapporteur on the tobacco directive (see EUROPE 10908). “David Harley has never worked on tobacco or on a health policy since he has worked at Burson-Marsteller”, the agency states. It also underlines that Harley has never been an MEP. He had a long career in the European Parliament, however, before joining Burson-Marsteller in 2010 - in particular as secretary-general of the S&D Group, before taking on the role of deputy secretary-general of the European Parliament in 2007. Burson-Marsteller furthermore asserts that it has a policy of “not defending the interests of tobacco producers”. (IL/transl.fl)