The EU Health Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, is seeking to outlaw smoking in bars and restaurants throughout the European Union, similar to the controversial ban due to come into force in Ireland on January 1st, writes Denis Staunton, in Brussels.
Mr Byrne told eupolitix.com, a European news website, that he is planning to introduce the ban using worker protection legislation.
He revealed his officials were already considering how best to draft new EU legislation on the issue.
"There is clear evidence now that there is a correlation between passive smoking and health-related responses like disease.
"The motivation, for example, in Ireland, for banning smoking in pubs and restaurants is very largely inspired by, not just the need to protect the public, those who resort to pubs and restaurants as customers, but also to protect those who are working in that environment," he said.
The Commission does not have the authority to ban smoking in European bars and restaurants and Mr Byrne has faced a difficult task in persuading member-states to introduce other anti-smoking measures.
Germany has asked the European Court of Justice to overturn an EU ban on tobacco advertising on radio, the Internet and in newspapers, arguing that it is an unacceptable limitation on free speech.
"Germany is unique in its opposition to my proposals, all the other 14 member-states are in agreement. The vast majority of MEPs in the European Parliament are in agreement with my policies. So I have to say, and I say it with respect to the largest member-state in the EU, I'm afraid they're out of step with everyone else," Mr Byrne said.
The Commission this month announced the establishment of a database of photographs of diseased lungs and dying cancer patients for use on cigarette packets in the EU.
The images will not be used in all member-states and Mr Byrne acknowledged yesterday that some European countries take a more indulgent attitude towards smoking than others.
"I know that traditions and cultures differ. One must always be sensitive to respecting different cultural traditions and I always seek to try and do that when I'm contemplating policies and bringing forward objectives.
Mr Byrne said his officials were at an early stage of planning the smoking ban.