Sport policies of the European Union
Encyclopedia
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.
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:
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. http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l35008.htm
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 that affect EU citizens. 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 Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
plays a minor and mostly indirect policy role in sport, because (a) sport is normally considered to be outside the competences conferred
Principle of conferral
The principle of conferral is a fundamental principle of European Union law. According to this principle, the EU is a union of member states, and all its competences are voluntarily conferred on it by its member states...
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.
Direct
The European Union has a very limited direct role in sport. The European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
is composed of Directorates-General and several departments. Within the Directorate-General
Directorate-General
A Directorate-General is a branch of an administration dedicated to a specific field of expertise.* The European Commission: Commission Directorates-General are each headed by a European Commissioner;* The European Patent Office: EPO Directorates-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. http://ec.europa.eu/sport/index_en.htm
One of the few specific measures in Sports was taken by Decision No. 291/2003/EC of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
and of the Council
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
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. http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l35008.htm
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
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
confirmed that this right, when applied to professional athletes, forbids nationality quotas in sports leagues that affect EU citizens. 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.
External links
- EU sport policy euractiv.com
- Sport&EU (the association for the study of sport and the European Union)
- European Capitals of Sport