European Shisha Community Alliance
Acronym: ESCA
General Information
Identification Code: 876337940850-36
Website: http://www.shishaalliance.org
Entity Form: Trade Association
Registration Category: Trade and business associations
Registration Date: 1/5/2021
Last Update: 5/29/2024
Mission & Interests
Goals: The European Shisha Community Alliance (ESCA) aims to represent the thousands of small businesses that run lounges, retail outlets and shisha manufacturers that are proud to sell products that have a unique historic and cultural link to their customers.
Shisha, also known as water-pipe, hookah, narghile, hubble-bubble and moasseel, is a ritual that has been enjoyed for centuries. Originating in the Middle East and India and now sold across the globe it brings adults together to socialise. Shisha is low in tobacco content, used occasionally and can only be enjoyed via a large cumbersome device which takes time, expertise and patience to prepare, making it unsuitable for use by minors.
Interests Represented: Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Interests:
- Customs
- Public health
- Taxation
- Trade
Levels of Interest:
- european
Activities
Main EU Legislative Proposals: The European Shisha Community Alliance (ESCA) engages on issues that are relevant to its members. ESCA members are businesses involved in the water-pipe, commonly known as shisha, sector in Europe. such as:
- Taxation
- Tobacco-related regulatory issues
- Preventing illicit trade and counterfeiting
- Movement of excisable product
- Social responsibility
- Better Regulation
- Intellectual Property
Responded to the following public Inception Impact Assessment:
- Tobacco Taxation - Excise Duties for manufacturers tobacco products (updated rules) 5th Jan 2021
Communication Activities: ESCA is active on social media, such as instagram, facebook, linkedin and twitter. The scope of our communications cover non commercial content or commentary on policy or media issues relevant to members.
We aim to develop outreach initiatives in order to build an evidence based understanding of our unique category and to ensure that the views of our member organisations are conveyed directly to EU Member State representatives where our members are active, EU Commissioners, their assistants, officials and other administrators.
Of particular interest are policy areas related to taxation, product regulation and cooperation with law enforcement. This includes, but is not limited to DG TAXUD, DG SANTE and DG OLAF. Additionally, there is potential to contact MEP´s directly in regions where shisha tobacco is grown such as Germany or where shisha manufacturing is located such as in Germany, Poland and Spain.
Specifically, we plan to be involved in drafting and circulating formal letters, information material and position papers, organising events, meetings, or social events, to which Members and their assistants, officials or other staff of the EU institutions may be invited and finally participation in formal consultations or hearings on envisaged EU legislative or other legal acts and other open consultations.
Inter-institutional or Unofficial Groupings: Unofficial groupings
Head Office
Address: Avenue Louise 143/4
Post Code: 1050
City: Brussels
Country: BELGIUM
Phone:
Indic Phone: 32
Phone Number: 24016801
EU Office
Address: Avenue Louise 143/4
Post Code: 1050
City: Brussels
Country: BELGIUM
Phone:
Indic Phone: 32
Phone Number: 24016801
Financial Data
Closed Year:
Start Date:
End Date:
Funding Sources:
Contributions:
Total Budget: 0
Grants:
Current Year:
Grants:
Membership Information
Members25 Percent: 1
Members: 2
Members F T E: 1.25
Structure
Structure Type: Structure
Is Member Of: https://shishaalliance.org/ourmembers-1
Current Job Opportunities
Graduate Intern - Trade and business associations
European Shisha Community Alliance
internBrussels, BelgiumFull-time-time
Posted: 9/23/2025
mid-levelBrussels, Francefull-time
Posted: 8/21/2025