EU Health Commissioner John Dalli ousted in EU Snus Corruption Scandal

EU Health Commissioner and snus hater John Dalli has resigned in a snus corruption scandal.  Long a roadblock in Sweden’s attempts to have the EU Snus Ban dropped from the new EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), Dalli was forced to resign today based on an extortion complaint filed with the EU by Swedish Match AB.

An investigation by the EU’s Anti-Fraud Office discovered Dalli was aware of an attempt by a Maltese businessman to trade his influence with Dalli to affect the EU’s ban of Swedish snus in a way positive for Swedish Match and Sweden.  Dalli, himself a former Maltese businessman, denied any involvement in the extortion plot but very quickly resigned.

John Dalli “resigned” immediately after the EU’s anti-fraud office found that Dalli was aware of an attempt at corruption surrounding Swedish snus and the new TPD.  The Swedish Match complaint centered on a Maltese businessman’s attempts to use contacts and his relationship with Dalli (himself a former Maltese businessman) to influence the fate of the Swedish snus ban.  I would presume positively for Swedish Match and Sweden.

Dalli vowed to clear his name and then quickly left before the EU door hit him on the way out.

Seems a contact of Dalli’s tried to extort money from Swedish Match.  SM filed a complaint and, vowing to clear his name, John Dalli was ousted.  

Whether this is ultimately good or bad concerning the lifting of the EU Snus Ban is yet to be seen.

Will the person replacing Dalli be more rational concerning MRTP (especially Swedish Snus)or just as bad?  

At first glance, this incident seems a big win for Sweden in having the EU snus ban lifted.  The last thing the EU needs right now is a loss of credibility.