Sports

Sport’s role in promoting growth, jobs, social inclusion and health

Council Resolution on the European Union Work Plan for Sport 2014-2017. Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 21 May 2014 on the European Union Work Plan for Sport (2014-2017) (2014/C 183/03) (Official Journal C 183, 14.6.2014, pp. 12-17)

The resolution lays down the basis for a 3-year EU Work Plan for Sport, building on the achievements of an earlier EU Work Plan. It identifies key priorities and outputs as well as the contribution sport can make to Europe’s wider economic and social policy agenda. It establishes three priorities for the 2014-17 period:

protecting the integrity of sport by tackling illegal and discriminatory behaviour;
developing its economic dimension;
promoting the societal role of sport.

KEY POINTS

EU governments agreed to establish five expert groups. These focus on:

match-fixing (especially any links with betting);
good governance (protection of children and teenagers, awarding procedures for major sport events and gender equality);
sport’s economic dimension (such as sustainable financing and the legacy of major sport events to the area in which they are held, for example, modern infrastructure);
health-enhancing physical activity (notably in schools and in contacts with local authorities and the private sector);
developing human resources (through education, training, employment and volunteering).

Support is also being given to other initiatives such as studies, conferences and regular dialogue with sport stakeholders.

In addition:

national authorities are urged to regularly inform and consult sport stakeholders on progress in implementing the work plan;
governments that hold the rotating 6-month Presidency of the Council should include the work plan’s aims in their policy programme.
By November 2016, the Commission will provide a report on the progress made. This will be the basis for the discussion in the Council on a possible third Work Plan in the first half of 2017.

In the context of the implementation of this Work Plan, various Council documents have been adopted. These include Council conclusions, in 2015, that stress the importance of grassroots sport in developing skills, especially among young people, The text points out that sport, while above all being a physical leisure activity, also brings added-value with regard to a healthier and generally more inclusive and sustainable society. Sport can develop positive social attitudes and values, as well as individuals’ skills and competences, including transversal skills such as the ability to think critically, take initiatives, problem solve and work collaboratively.

BACKGROUND

Sport is an area, according to the EU treaties, where measures taken by the EU should support, coordinate and supplement what national authorities do. The EU also works closely with national, European and international organisations, such as the Council of Europe, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the World Health Organization.

RELATED ACTS

Council conclusions on maximising the role of grassroots sport in developing transversal skills, especially among young people (OJ C 172, 27.5.2015, pp. 8-12)

Sport — a spur to innovation and excellence

Conclusions on sport as a driver of innovation and economic growth. In these conclusions, the Council of the European Union set outs recommendations for the European Union (EU) and for EU countries to create conditions in which the benefits of sport for innovation and the economy can be maximised.

KEY POINTS

Economic benefits

Sport represents 1.76 % of the EU’s economy and accounts for 2.12 % of employment.
Sport is recognised as being important in addressing the issues of youth unemployment and social inclusion, and is a priority theme of the Europe 2020 strategy.
Sport has been a resilient sector in times of economic crisis.

Driver of innovation

Competition and the need for constant improvement and excellence has led to innovation in such areas as injury preventionSport technology, materials scienceSport technology and biomechanics.Sport technology has become a leader in certain fields of applied science such as textile technology and human-oriented design.
Innovations have had positive spillover effects in other sectors such as food and drink, IT/software and the automotive industry.
Sports sponsorship and media rights funding lead to investment, and sports events can be platforms for product development and launches.

The conclusions invite EU countries to:

promote cooperation between administrations, universities, research centres, industry and sports bodies, supported by EU funding;
encourage sport initiatives to boost growth and facilitate the take-up of innovations by other sectors of the economy;
raise awareness of the potential of sport for growth and employment, sharing best practices at all levels.

The conclusions invite the EU to:

support and coordinate collaboration across EU countries and the exchange of good practice, networks and projects, and continue to collect statistics on the link between sport and the economy;
organise ahigh-level event on the contribution of sport to innovation and economic growth, and encourage initiatives and sharing in the context of the European Week of Sport (communications tools to promote the week have been developed and are free for use);
include sport issues in their contacts and relations with relevant non-EU countries.

BACKGROUND

The EU Work Plan for Sport 2014-2017 recognises the key importance of developing sport’s economic dimension.
For more information on EU sport policy, see:
‘Policy overview’ on the European Commission’s website.

DOCUMENT

Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on sport as a driver of innovation and economic growth (OJ C 436, 5.12.2014, pp. 2-5).

Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 21 May 2014 on the European Union Work Plan for Sport (2014-2017) (OJ C 183, 14.6.2014, pp. 12-17)

Major sports events — enhancing the integrity of sport

They propose ways of implementing the principles of integrity, transparency and good governance at all stages of such events (feasibility, bidding, preparation, organisation, evaluation and legacy), including after their closure.

KEY POINTS

Major sport events offer opportunities to celebrate the performance, values and benefits of sport; they also have an important economic, social and environmental impact on the areas where they are organised.

Because of the large sums of money involved, certain issues arise in relation to major sport events which are vulnerable to processes that can taint the integrity of sport and its governance. These relate to aspects such as:
democratic and transparent decision making — both in awarding and bidding entities;
accountability;
sustainable development and positive legacy;
human rights, including children’s rights and workers’ rights, as well as gender equality;
preventing all forms of discrimination; and
preventing threats to the integrity of sport, such as doping, match-fixing and violence.

The conclusions stress the importance of:

regular dialogue between EU countries, the European Commission and the sports movement;
the role of national, regional and local public authorities in
financing;
infrastructure;
environmental protection;
safety and security aspects; and
planning and ensuring the sustainability of major sport events;
sports federations managing their respective sports in accordance with the basic and recognised principles of good governance (e.g. transparency, democracy, checks and balances and solidarity) given that sports organisation is essentially self-regulated.

The conclusions include a number of recommendations such as that:

EU countries

should take initiatives ensuring all partners involved in events
have transparent and democratic procedures in place during all phases of major sport events, with special attention given to public information and involvement;
use transparent and relevant criteria for public support of the organisations involved, e.g. requiring these organisations to implement the basic principles of good governance and transparent and democratic procedures;
comply with recognised international standards and participate in initiatives such as the United Nations global compact initiative, the UN guiding principles on business and human rights, ISO 26000 and ISO 20121, and
use transparent and relevant principles as the basis for providing public support of major sport events in respect of specific integrity issues such as human rights, and preventing all forms of discrimination and threats to the integrity of sport;
EU countries and the Commission, within their respective competences, should
exchange and discuss information relevant topics in relation to major sport events;
support the implementation of criteria and procedures related to integrity, transparency and good governance of major sport events which could be used as reference points by EU countries and local authorities for public support of major sport events;
identify and develop models for public–private cooperation and exchange good practices regarding this cooperation;
the Commission should
launch a study on hosting major sport events in multiple EU countries and regions, taking into account possible administrative and legislative obstacles at national and EU level and the expected impacts of such events;
support transnational projects and, where relevant, independent research on the integrity, transparency and good governance of major sport events including aspects of sustainability and positive legacy in the context of EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020;
encourage sharing and publishing of good practices and learning experiences and facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the EU countries and the sports movement;
develop a light monitoring system, by way of a pledge board or the UN global compact initiative, to measure progress towards integrity, transparency and good governance for hosting organisations of major sport events;

EU countries, the Commission and the international sports movement should
intensify their dialogue and agree on a shared agenda — starting with the Olympic Movement and international football associations with the aim of extending it to other international sporting organisations — to improve integrity and transparency;
undertake joint initiatives such as developing guiding models for public–private cooperation, developing a code of conduct for all public and private stakeholders in major sport events;
organise a regular high-level dialogue as part of the EU structured dialogue on sport.

BACKGROUND

The EU’s work plan for sport 2014-2017 addresses aspects such as protecting the integrity of sport, developing its economic dimension and promoting its societal role.

For more information, see:

Organisation of sport on the European Commission’s website.

DOCUMENT

Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on enhancing integrity, transparency and good governance in major sport events (OJ C 212, 14.6.2016, pp. 14-17)

Major sports events — enhancing the integrity of sport

Conclusions on enhancing integrity, transparency and good governance in major sport events. They seek to ensure that there is a level playing field both among sportspeople themselves and in the bodies and authorities that organise major sport events at national and European Union (EU) levels.
They propose ways of implementing the principles of integrity, transparency and good governance at all stages of such events (feasibility, bidding, preparation, organisation, evaluation and legacy), including after their closure.

KEY POINTS

The conclusions stress the importance of:

The conclusions include a number of recommendations such as that:

EU countries should

take initiatives ensuring all partners involved in events
have transparent and democratic procedures in place during all phases of major sport events, with special attention given to public information and involvement;
use transparent and relevant criteria for public support of the organisations involved, e.g. requiring these organisations to implement the basic principles of good governance and transparent and democratic procedures;
comply with recognised international standards and participate in initiatives such as the United Nations global compact initiative, the UN guiding principles on business and human rights, ISO 26000 and ISO 20121, and
use transparent and relevant principles as the basis for providing public support of major sport events in respect of specific integrity issues such as human rights, and preventing all forms of discrimination and threats to the integrity of sport;

EU countries and the Commission, within their respective competences, should
exchange and discuss information relevant topics in relation to major sport events;
support the implementation of criteria and procedures related to integrity, transparency and good governance of major sport events which could be used as reference points by EU countries and local authorities for public support of major sport events;
identify and develop models for public–private cooperation and exchange good practices regarding this cooperation;

The Commission should
launch a study on hosting major sport events in multiple EU countries and regions, taking into account possible administrative and legislative obstacles at national and EU level and the expected impacts of such events;
support transnational projects and, where relevant, independent research on the integrity, transparency and good governance of major sport events including aspects of sustainability and positive legacy in the context of EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020;
encourage sharing and publishing of good practices and learning experiences and facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the EU countries and the sports movement;
develop a light monitoring system, by way of a pledge board or the UN global compact initiative, to measure progress towards integrity, transparency and good governance for hosting organisations of major sport events;
EU countries, the Commission and the international sports movement should
intensify their dialogue and agree on a shared agenda — starting with the Olympic Movement and international football associations with the aim of extending it to other international sporting organisations — to improve integrity and transparency;
undertake joint initiatives such as developing guiding models for public–private cooperation, developing a code of conduct for all public and private stakeholders in major sport events;
organise a regular high-level dialogue as part of the EU structured dialogue on sport.

The EU’s work plan for sport 2014-2017 addresses aspects such as protecting the integrity of sport, developing its economic dimension and promoting its societal role.

For more information, see:

Organisation of sport on the European Commission’s website.

Security in connection with football events with an international dimension

Decision 2002/348/JHA — security at international football events.It aims to prevent and combat football-related violence in order to ensure the safety of EU citizens, by outlining methods for internationally coordinated policing of football events.

It sets up national football information points to enable information-sharing, cross-border cooperation and policing of international football events.

KEY POINTS

EU countries must set up a national football information point to support the policing of international top-level football events between teams from different countries. These have the task of:

coordinating and enabling international police cooperation and information exchange;
sharing information on high-risk supporters;
assisting national authorities where necessary;
performing a risk assessment of their own country’s clubs and national team and sharing this with other EU countries.
Information is shared before, during and after a football event as follows:

strategic information, specifying all aspects of the event, with particular reference to any security risks;
operational information, providing a picture of proceedings in the course of the event;
tactical information, enabling appropriate action to be taken to maintain order and security, and feedback after the event.

Information is confidential and should be provided in good time, with safeguards on the exchange of personal data, in accordance with relevant national and international legislation.

Decision 2002/348/JHA was amended in 2007 by Decision 2007/412/JHA on security in connection with football matches with an international dimension.
A 2003 Council resolution asked EU countries to consider banning from football stadiums individuals who had previously committed acts of violence at football events. It included the possibility of bans extending to other EU countries, backed up by penalties for non-compliance.
The handbook for international police cooperation, the ‘EU Football Handbook’, originally introduced in 1999 and updated by the Council resolutions of 4 December 2006, 3 June 2010 and 29 November 2016, provides a template for sharing information.

The handbook details arrangements for:

intelligence gathering;
reconnaissance;
the role of police spotters or informers;
crowd control;
communication with supporters and the media;
the conditions under which police officers can directly assist in other countries.
In a 2014 decision, the European Commission and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) agreed to boost cooperation and dialogue, including actions to step up efforts against violence at football stadiums. They hold senior-level meetings at least once a year to review progress.

DOCUMENT

Council Decision 2002/348/JHA of 25 April 2002 concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension (OJ L 121, 8.5.2002, pp. 1–3)

Subsequent amendments to Decision 2002/348/JHA have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Council Resolution of 17 November 2003 on the use by Member States of bans on access to venues of football matches with an international dimension (OJ C 281, 22.11.2003, pp. 1–2)

Council Resolution concerning an updated handbook with recommendations for international police cooperation and measures to prevent and control violence and disturbances in connection with football matches with an international dimension, in which at least one Member State is involved (‘EU Football Handbook’) (OJ C 444, 29.11.2016, pp. 1–36)

Commission Decision of 14 October 2014 adopting the Arrangement for Cooperation between the European Commission and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) (C(2014) 7378 final of 14.10.2014)

European dimension in sport

Communication (COM(2011) 12 final) — Developing the European Dimension in Sport. Article 6 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Building on the 2007 White Paper on sport, it sets out a list of initiatives that can be taken at EU level to further strengthen sport’s role in society, its economic dimension and its organisation.

Article 6 TFEU gives the EU powers to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement EU countries’ action in areas such as sport, education and culture.

Key points

The communication presents the issues to be addressed at EU level under 3 broad themes. The initiatives to be taken are intended to provide added value by supporting and complementing EU countries’ own actions in the field of sport.

Sport’s role in society

Sport can make a positive contribution to growth, citizens’ employability and social cohesion, while helping to reduce health spending. However, it continues to face threats related to doping, violence and intolerance, against which action must be taken to protect athletes and citizens.

The use of doping substances poses serious public health hazards, so it is necessary to step up the fight against doping. The key parties involved in the sports sector called for the EU to join the Council of Europe’s Anti-Doping Convention, so the European Commission is to propose a draft mandate for negotiating the EU’s accession. It is also essential to reinforce measures preventing organised networks’ trade in doping substances. The Commission is to examine ways to do this, including through the introduction of criminal law. The Commission already supports several organisations that play an important role in the fight against doping, such as the World Anti-Doping Agency. It will continue supporting transnational anti-doping networks.

The quality of sports programmes in educational institutions is not satisfactory in several EU countries. The quality of sport training centres and their staff should be high enough to safeguard athletes’ moral, educational and professional interests. To support education, training and qualifications in sport, the Commission and EU countries are to:
draw up EU guidelines on dual careers for athletes to ensure that quality education is provided alongside sport training;
support the referencing of sport-related qualifications to the European Qualifications Framework;
promote the recognition and validation of non-formal* and informal*learning gained through sport-related activities.

A European approach is needed to prevent and fight against violence and intolerance, which continue to pose problems to European sport. The Commission and EU countries therefore are to develop and implement security arrangements and safety requirements covering a wide range of sport disciplines (currently only international football events are covered). Furthermore, the Commission is to support the fight against intolerance in sport and encourage EU countries to fully and effectively enforce the Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating racism and xenophobia.

Sport is fundamental for improving physical activity, which is an essential health determinant in today’s society. To enhance health through sport, the Commission and EU countries are working on national guidelines to encourage people to include physical activity in their daily lives, based on the 2008 EU Physical Activity Guidelines. There are great differences between EU countries regarding the concept of health-enhancing physical activity. To overcome these differences, the Commission is to support transnational projects and networks in this area.

Social inclusion can be improved in and through sport. The Commission and EU countries are to:
draw up accessibility standards for sport through the European Disability Strategy;
further promote the participation of persons with disabilities in sporting activities;
support transnational projects that promote women’s access to sport and disadvantaged groups’ social integration through sport.

Sport’s economic dimension

Sport is an ever-growing sector of the economy that contributes to growth and jobs. There is a need for comparable data to form the basis of evidence-based policymaking and for sustaining sport financing, in particular non-profit sport.
Evidence-based policymaking is essential for implementing EU sport rules. The Commission and EU countries are to produce satellite accounts for sport to measure its economic importance. The Commission is also to provide support to a network of universities to promote innovative sport policies, as well as study the possibility of setting up an EU sport monitoring function.

The sustainable financing of sport must be ensured. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are an important source of revenue in the professional sports field; consequently, the Commission is to:
consider IPRs from the coverage of sporting events in the implementation of the Digital Agenda initiative (and the subsequent digital single market strategy);
study the funding of grass roots sport, which will inform future action in this field.

Together with EU countries, the Commission is to examine how the financial solidarity mechanisms in the sports sector may be strengthened.
So far, there have only been a few decisions on the application of EU state aid rules to sport. The Commission is to monitor state aid law in the area of sport and to consider providing guidance if the number of state aid cases increases.
Sport is a valuable tool for regional development and employability. To take advantage of this, the Commission and the EU countries will make full use of the European Structural and Investment Funds to support sustainable sports structures.

Sports organisation

The autonomy and self-regulation of sport organisations is underpinned by good governance in the sector. To promote good governance in sport at the European level, the Commission and EU countries are to endorse common standards through the exchange of good practice and by providing targeted support to specific initiatives.

To ensure the concept of the specific nature of sport is applied correctly, the Commission is to provide guidance:
theme-by-theme on the relationship between EU law and sporting rules;
on EU rules relating to the free movement and nationality of sportspeople, with a view to the organisation of non-discriminatory competitions in individual sports on a national basis;
on transfer rules, as player transfers often raise questions about their legality and the financing involved. The Commission was to assess both the economic and legal aspects relating to such transfers.

The activities of sport agents also raise ethical questions; consequently, the Commission organised a conference to examine ways in which agents’ activities may be improved.
Within the professional football sector, a European social dialogue committee was launched in 2008. Several organisations have called for the creation of a European social dialogue for the whole sport sector, which the Commission is backing. To facilitate this process, the Commission is to propose a test phase for the relevant social partners.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Sport (European Commission)
2008 EU physical activity guidelines (European Commission)
Anti-Doping Convention (Council of Europe)
Sport — health and participation (European Commission)
Sport — social inclusion (European Commission)
Sport — sport statistics (European Commission)
Sport — sustainable financing (European Commission)
Study on grassroots sports funding (European Commission)

KEY TERMS

Non-formal learning: organised learning, building on an individual’s skills and capacities and often led by a teacher, but which does not result in a formal diploma.
Informal learning: learning with no formal curriculum or credits and often involving family or a friend.

DOCUMENTS

Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union — Part One — Principles — Title I — Categories and areas of Union competence — Article 6 (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 52-53)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Developing the European Dimension in Sport (COM(2011) 12 final, 18.1.2011)

Activities to combat doping in sport

Communication (COM(99) 643 final) — support plan to combat doping in sport. It sets out the action planned and taken to tackle doping in sport, including the use of European Union (EU) instruments (research, education and training, youth, police and the judicial cooperation, public health) and the coordination of existing legislative measures.

The communication set out a three-layered approach to tackle doping in sport:

assemble experts’ opinions on the ethical, legal and scientific dimensions of doping;
contribute to preparing the 1999 World Anti-Doping Conference and to creating the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA);
mobilise EU instruments with a view to supplementing the actions already underway in EU countries and to give them an EU dimension, taking account of the growing mobility of European sportspersons and the EU’s powers in relation to doping.

European Group on Ethics

The European Commission has committed itself to taking into account, in its future actions and deliberations, elements of the opinion of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE). This group has set out the ethical principles on which the EU measures must be based:

the rights of everyone, both sportspersons and others, to safety and health;
the principle of integrity and transparency, for the sake of which the consistency of sporting competitions must be ensured and the image of sport in general preserved;
the special attention which must be paid to the most vulnerable people and, in particular, children, who can be very involved in high-level sport.

On the basis of these principles, the EGE suggested a number of measures including:

establishing an effective health monitoring system for athletes, in particular a specialised medical, psychological and information service;
adopting a directive on the protection of young athletes, in particular those who aspire to become professional;
encouraging research into the health of athletes;
increased police and judicial cooperation;
incorporating conditions relating to doping and its prohibition in athletes’ contracts.

Anti-doping agencies

Doping prevention and doping sanctions are the responsibility of sport organisations and EU countries.
The Commission supports the fight against doping and role of WADA, national anti-doping organisations, accredited laboratories, the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
EU Expert Group on anti-doping submitted the first EU revisions to WADA’s World Anti-Doping Code in 2012.
Commission has worked with EU countries to ensure that all rules and procedures linked to new 2015 World Anti-Doping Code comply with EU law and the EU’s vision of an athlete-friendly anti-doping system.
EU instruments

Actions using EU instruments come in 2 forms:

better coordination of regulatory measures;
mobilisation of EU programmes which can support positive anti-doping measures at European level.
These actions focus on the following:

intensifying efforts to identify doping substances, detection methods, the health consequences of doping and doping as a socio-economic phenomenon;
mobilising education, vocational training and youth programmes in the service of information and training, awareness-raising and prevention programmes;
making full use of police and judicial cooperation programmes;
reinforcing drugs information;
developing public health policy measures.

A 2011 Commission communication encouraged EU countries to:
adopt and share national anti-doping action plans aimed at ensuring coordination among all relevant parties;
continue the existing trend across EU countries to introduce criminal law rules against trade in doping substances by organised networks, or to reinforce existing rules.

DOCUMENT

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Community support plan to combat doping in sport (COM(99) 643 final, 1.12.1999)

Communiation from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Developing the European Dimension in Sport (COM(2011) 12 final, 18.1.2011)

Council Decision 2013/304/EU of 10 June 2013 authorising the European Commission to participate, on behalf of the EU, in the negotiations for an international Convention of the Council of Europe to combat the manipulation of sports results with the exception of matters related to cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation (OJ L 170, 22.6.2013, pp. 62-65)

Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council on the representation of the EU Member States in the Foundation Board of WADA and the coordination of the EU and its Member States’ positions prior to WADA meetings (OJ C 372, 20.12.2011, pp. 7–9)