Brussels, 09/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - European Healh and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou welcomes the decision taken by the French government to ban smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants, from January 2008. He warmly congratulated Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Health Minister Xavier Bertrand for their decision. With this measure, he said, France is in the lead when it comes to combating smoking and he trusts that all EU Member States that are still hesitating will have the courage to do the same. The European Commission will make a contribution to the debate on tobacco-free areas with a Green Paper by the end of the year, he said. The Green Paper begin prepared envisaged consultation of Member States, the European Parliament and the public on the best way to combat passive smoking. It will also look at the various solutions possible, a press release states. (oj)