Such a decision, the minister explained, was made because Croatia intends to follow the example of many European countries that have already banned smoking in public places. The corresponding bill will be submitted to parliament in the coming months. The new decree may come into force in spring 2009.
As Interfax notes, Croatia already has a partial ban on smoking. It applies to schools and medical institutions. In restaurants, cafes, and office buildings, restrictions are less strict and are almost never observed.
A law banning smoking in public places is in effect in many countries, including Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Iceland, Finland, and Estonia. In 2008, smoking laws were tightened in Austria and Germany.