The European Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou, a Greek Cypriot, hailed on Friday the smoking ban approved by Cyprus' parliament as "a huge step forward" in protecting public health, the Cyprus News agency reported from Brussels.
Despite strong lobbying against the ban by local coffee shops and nightclubs, the island state's parliament overwhelmingly approved the legislation on Thursday night after a lengthy heated debate.
Cyprus will join many other EU member states in banning smoking in all enclosed public spaces as of January 1, 2010.
"This is a huge step forward in health protection and I am very pleased that a clear majority of the parliament supported this long due measure," Vassiliou was quoted as saying.
The commissioner urged Cypriot authorities to ensure full application of the smoking ban and asked Cypriot citizens for cooperation, the agency said.
According to the new law, violators of the ban are subject to fines of up to 2,000 euros (2,779 U.S. dollars), while establishments that fail to post "highly visible" nonsmoking signs can be fined up to 1,000 euros (1,389 dollars).