|
Sports
In July 2007, the European Commission adopted a White Paper on sport which allowed for the enhancement of EU-level cooperation and dialogue on sports.
Sport has been an EU competence since the Lisbon Treaty entered into force on December 1 st 2009, with Article 165 specifically outlining the European Commission‘s powers in this area.
Following the establishment of an official EU Sports Council on May 10th 2010 and building on the achievements of the White Paper, the Commission published a Communication – Developing the European Dimension in Sport - on18th January 2011.
The Communication deals with the European dimension in sport and develops areas introduced in the White Paper. In addition, it acts as a framework for mainstreaming sport related activities into relevant EU funds, programmes and initiatives. The structure of the White Paper is based on three thematic chapters:
- The social role of sports
- The economic dimension of sports
- The organization of sports.
These chapters are based on Commission consultation with Member States leading up to the Communication. The consultation witnessed a broad interest in prioritising health-enhancing physical activity, the fight against doping, education and training, voluntary activity and non-profit sports organizations, social inclusion in and through sports, as well as the sustainable financing of grassroots sports and good governance.
Under the section dealing with the economic dimension of sports, the Communication mentions ‘Regional development and employability’. It proposes that EU funds can be used for projects and actions in support of sustainable sport structures. This could enhance the value of sports as a tool for local and regional development, urban regeneration, rural development and employability.
A report published by the UK’s House of Lords on April 6th 2011, highlighted the necessity of granting specific funding from the EU budget to the first EU sports programme, expected to come into force in 2014, since it will help to deliver major policy objectives in areas like health, education and employment.
|
