Rules concerning the ban on smoking on European Parliament's premises — Bureau decision of 23 March 2011

Smoking is forbidden within all premises of the European Parliament, including its information offices in Member States and the liaison office in Washington, with the only exception of specially designated areas listed in the Annex.

Smoking is also forbidden in official cars and all other means of transport provided by the Institution.

These rules shall be notified to Members, their assistants and staff.

Clear indications as to the ban on smoking under Article 1 shall be posted at the entrances and throughout the public areas of the European Parliament's premises, with the exception of the specially designated areas listed in the Annex. The exact location of the smoking areas shall be clearly indicated so that Members, their assistants and staff are informed of the areas where smoking is authorised. No ashtrays shall be put at the disposal of the public within Parliament's premises, with the exception of the specially designated areas and the areas near to the entrances of Parliament's premises.

Leaders of the political groups shall recall the need for respect of these rules to Members and staff of their respective groups.

Any Member who persists in failing to comply with these rules, even after the oral reminder pursuant to Article 4, shall be subject, under the authority of the Quaestors and the President, to the sanctions’ regime provided for in Article 6.

Any official, other staff member or accredited assistant who persists in failing to comply with these rules, even after the oral reminder pursuant to Article 4, shall be subject, under the authority of the Secretary-General, to the sanctions’ regime provided for in Article 7.

Any local assistant, visitor or other person having entered Parliament’s premises (e.g. personnel of service providers and external firms) who persists in failing to comply with these rules, even after the oral reminder pursuant to Article 4, shall be subject, under the authority of the Secretary-General, to the sanctions’ regime provided for in Article 8.

The Secretary-General shall report the name of any Member refusing to comply with these rules to the Quaestors. Subsequently, the Quaestors shall address a formal communication (written reminder — ‘yellow card’) to the Member informing him that financial sanctions will apply in case of reiterated breach of these rules.

In case of reiterated breach of these rules by a Member, the President, upon a proposal submitted by the Quaestors, shall adopt a decision imposing financial sanctions upon the Member concerned (‘red card’). The amount of the sanction shall be equivalent to the amount of one day's subsistence allowance. This amount shall be directly deducted from the Member's general expenditure allowance.

The Member being subject to a sanction may submit a written complaint within 15 working days from notification to the President. Such an appeal shall have suspensory effect. The Bureau shall notify the complainant of its reasoned decision within two months from the date on which the complaint was lodged.

In case of reiterated breach of these rules by an official, other staff member or accredited assistant, the Secretary-General shall address a formal communication (written reminder — ‘yellow card’) to the person concerned informing him that disciplinary sanctions will apply.

In case of continued breach of these rules, the official, other staff member or accredited assistant concerned shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings under the Staff Regulations.

Any person being subject to a sanction under this Article may submit an appeal to the appointing authority under Article 90 of the Staff Regulations of Officials and Conditions of Employment of other Servants of the European Community which fully apply.