Sport policies of the European Union

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The European Union plays a minor and mostly indirect policy role in sport, because (a) sport is normally considered to be outside the competences conferred by the member states to the European Union and (b) sport is in general organised internally, on a European continental level (which is not the same as the level of the European Union), or globally. The European Union does not have specific sport policies. The role of the EU could increase, if (for example) the European Constitution were to be ratified.

Role of the EU

Direct

The European Union has a very limited direct role in sport. The European Commission is composed of Directorates-General and several departments. Within the Directorate-General Education and Culture, is the Sport Unit, which is responsible for the following main areas:

• cooperation within the Commission and with other institutions on sport-related issues,
• cooperation with national and international sports institutions, organisations and federations,
• bilateral meetings with sports institutions and organisations and international sports federations. [link]

One of the few specific measures in Sports was taken by Decision No. 291/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 February 2003 that established the European Year of Education through Sport 2004.

The activities and initiatives undertaken during 2004 were organised at Community, transnational, national, regional and local level, and was sometimes co-financed by the Community. Activities compromised for instance financial support for transnational, national, regional or local initiatives to promote education through sport. [link]

Indirect

Although not directed specifically at sport, many of the rules, policies and programmes of the European Union have an impact on the sports world or are of interest to it.

In particular, the common market of the European Union creates the right for any EU citizen to move and work freely in another member state. The landmark Bosman ruling confirmed that this right, when applied to professional athletes, forbids nationality quotas in sports leagues. This has changed the face of professional sports in the EU, with top teams now collecting talent from all over Europe, and sometimes even fielding teams with no domestic players at all.

European Constitution

A reference to sport is included in the new European Constitution:

The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, given the social and educational function of sport. (…) Union action shall be aimed at developing the European dimension in sport, by promoting fairness in competitions and cooperation between sporting bodies and by protecting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen, especially young sportsmen and sportswomen.

What is altogether probable is enhanced co-operation in terms of preparation for international competitions. Such EU supported cooperation is already commonplace in a number of other areas. The proposed EU Constitution names sports as one of the areas for possible "supporting, coordinating or complementary action".

See also

• European Union at the 2004 Summer Olympics

 

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