FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2026
08:30 – 09:00.
Arrival and Registration
09:00 – 09:20
Opening and Welcome Remarks
- Cristina Martínez, Head of the Tobacco Control Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology
- Pedro Gullón, General Director of Public Health and Equity, Ministry of Health of Spain
- Kristina Mauer-Stender, Regional Adviser, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- Joan Brunet, General Director, Catalan Institute of Oncology
Masters of Ceremonies: Joan B. Soriano, University of the Balearic Islands, and Cristina Martínez
09:20 – 09:45
Opening Keynote: Product Characteristics and Design as Drivers of a New Wave of Nicotine Addiction.
Ghazi Zaatari, American University of Beirut
09:45 – 11:00
Session I: Shaping the Tobacco Control Landscape in Europe: Policy and Action for Impact.
Moderator: Esteve Fernández, Secretariat of Public Health, Department of Health, Government of Catalonia
- Policy Priorities and Strategic Goals for Tobacco Control in Europe. Kristina Mauer-Stender, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- Implementation of Tobacco Control Measures at Member State Level. Pedro Gullón, Spanish Ministry of Health
- European Coordination and Collaborative Strategies: Joint Action SAFE. Constantine Vardavas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
11:00 – 11:15 Break & Poster Session 1
11:15 – 12:30
Session II: Tobacco and Nicotine Taxation Policies: What Lies Ahead?
Moderator: Lluis Bohigas, PhD in Economics
- Future Directions for Tobacco Taxation Policy. Ángel López Nicolás, Polytechnic University of Cartagena
- Taxation of Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Recommendations and Best Practices. Anne-Marie Perucic, World Health Organization
- Addressing Tobacco Industry Arguments Against Taxation. Britta K Matthes, University of Bath
12:30 – 13:30 Group Photo & Lunch Break
13:30 – 14:30
Session III: Protecting Young People from Nicotine Addiction: Creating Supportive Environments and Strengthening Cessation Support.
Moderator: Angela Ciobanu, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- Youths Without Nicotine: Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Intervention for Youth. Rodrigo Córdoba García, University of Zaragoza
- Preventing Nicotine and Tobacco Use Among Youth. Spain’s Experience. Charlotta Pisinger, University of Southern Denmark
- Case Study: Nicotine- and Tobacco-Free School Policies. Laura Vremis, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- Smoke-Free Homes: Protecting Families and Fostering Tobacco- and Nicotine-Free Lifestyles. Olena Tigova, Catalan Institute of Oncology
14:30 – 15:30
Session IV: Reporting Through the Smoke: Identifying and Countering Tobacco Industry Disinformation
Moderator: Javier Granda, Spanish Association of Health Reporters
- Understanding Tobacco Industry Disinformation Tactics. Veronika D’Anna, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- Panel discussion: How Can Journalists Report Responsibly on Tobacco and Nicotine Issues? Laurent Huber, Action on Smoking and Health / Dániel Gál, Gottsegen National Cardiovascular Center / Raquel Fernández Megina, Nofumadores.org
15:30 – 15:45 Break & Poster Session 2
15:45 – 16:45
Session V: Tobacco and Nicotine in the Digital and Social Media Ecosystem.
Moderator: Ariadna Feliu, Imperial College London
- Advertising and Promotion on Social Media Platforms: Challenges and Regulatory Implications. Robert K. Jackler, Stanford University
- Case Study: Spain. Armando Peruga, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute
- Case Study: Norway. Sara Underland Mjelva, Norwegian Cancer Society
- Case Study: France. Maria-Alejandra Cardenas, Ministry for Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities
16:45 – 17:15
Closing Remarks
- Esteve Fernández, Secretary of Public Health, Department of Health, Government of Catalonia
- Cristina Martínez, Head of the Tobacco Control Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology
- Kristina Mauer-Stender, Regional Adviser, WHO Regional Office for Europe
END OF SYMPOSIUM