Shaping EU sport

Presidency

Belgium Period: July–December 2010 EU Council: 18 November 2010 Minister responsible: Philippe MUYTERS, Flemish Minister for Finance, the Budget, Employment, Town and Country Planning and Sport Sport Working Party Chair: An VERMEERSCH

Adopted EU Council Policy Documents

Council Conclusions on the Role of sport as a source of and a driver for active social inclusion.
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The Council conclusions emphasise that sport plays a vital social role and acts as both a source and driver of active social inclusion. They recall the Lisbon Treaty’s recognition of sport as an EU competence and highlight how sport contributes to employment, gender equality, social cohesion, and intercultural dialogue.

The document identifies three main priorities: (1) promoting “sport for all” by ensuring equal access to facilities and opportunities, especially for disadvantaged groups and persons with disabilities, while fostering gender equality; (2) using sport to strengthen community ties, develop skills through volunteering and informal learning, and promote inclusive growth; and (3) encouraging transnational exchange of strategies, research, and best practices.

Member States and the European Commission are invited to integrate sport into their social inclusion policies, promote accessibility and participation, recognise informal learning, and ensure that sport supports the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth.

Council Resolution on the EU structured dialogue on sport.
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The resolution establishes a structured dialogue framework between the EU public authorities and sports movement, recognising the new landscape following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. It emphasises that sport has both voluntary-based structures and a significant social and educational function, and that the EU must contribute to the “European dimension in sport”.

It directs the Council Presidency to convene regular informal high-level meetings (combining public authorities and sports stakeholders), tied to Council meetings, with a focused agenda based on recent and forthcoming sporting issues.

These meetings should ensure balanced participation (public authorities vs sports movement) and reflect the diversity of sport (Olympic/non-Olympic, professional/amateur, grassroots, persons with disabilities). The aim is continuous exchange of views, better implementation of EU cooperation in sport and reinforcing the link between sport policy and EU priorities.

Council Conclusions on the Role of the EU in the international fight against doping. Summary Full text Source

These Conclusions reaffirm the commitment of the European Union and its Member States to combating doping in sport as a matter of both integrity and public health. They stress the cross-border nature of doping, including its links to illicit trafficking and criminal networks, and note that while elite sport doping has well-developed controls, the recreational sport sector remains vulnerable.

The document calls on Member States to improve prevention, education, information sharing, testing, sanctioning and recovery measures, especially in recreational sport environments. It urges stronger cooperation among public authorities, the sport movement, health and law enforcement sectors.

The Conclusions also extend the mandate of the EU Expert Group on Anti-Doping to develop by end 2013 a set of recommendations, and invite the Commission to launch a study to build an evidence base. Overall, the Conclusions emphasise that the Union’s role is supportive and coordinating but vital in the wider fight for clean sport.

Interviews and Testimonials An Vermeersch