BRUSSELS (AFP) — European employer are legally allowed to refuse piece of works to smokers without being accused of discrimination.

BRUSSELS (AFP) — European employer are legally allowed to refuse piece of works to smokers without being accused of discrimination, a spokeswoman for the European Commission has said.

Refusing to enlist in one's service someone who smokes tobacco is "not shrouded by European anti-discrimination legislation," said Katharina von Schnurbein, spokeswoman for European Labour and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, confirming a report in the Financial Times

The issue was raised according to a British European deputy Catherine Stihler who questioned the commissioner above a job advertisement by an Irish company that warned smoker ne not apply, Britain's