11/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Publishers Council, EPC) has called on the European Court of Justice to accept Germany's appeal against the EU Directive banning tobacco advertising, "so as to protect fundamental press freedoms and the pluralism of the media". This directive of 6 July 1998 provides for the ban on all forms of advertising of tobacco products from 2002. For the President of EPC, Francisco Pinto Balsemao, it creates a "dangerous precedent", as it could soon extend to other advertising sectors, like alcohol advertising or advertising aimed at children, and endanger the existence of certain publications. According to him, "withdrawing the message will have no effect on the habits of tobacco consumption" whereas the ban would mean a reduction of almost 35% of advertising revenue.