Developing the European Dimension in Sport
INTRODUCTION
EU-level cooperation and dialogue on sport have been greatly enhanced thanks to the 2007 White Paper on Sport1 . Almost all actions in the accompanying “Pierre de Coubertin” Action Plan have been completed or are being implemented. The White Paper includes a description of the specificity of sport and the application of EU law in areas such as the Internal Market and competition to the sport sector. Through the implementation of the White Paper on Sport, the Commission has gathered useful evidence regarding themes to be addressed in the future. This Communication does not replace the White Paper but builds on its achievements.
In a number of areas, the White Paper remains an appropriate basis for EU-level activities in the field of sport. These areas include, for example, the promotion of voluntary activity in sport, the protection of minors, and environmental protection. The White Paper has also created a structured dialogue with sport stakeholders, including an annual EU Sport Forum, and has served as a basis for mainstreaming sport-related activities into relevant EU funds, programmes and initiatives. The fact that certain topics are not elaborated upon in this Communication does not imply that they are no longer priorities for the Commission, but rather that the White Paper remains a sufficient basis for addressing them in the coming years.
Different aspects of the sport sector are covered by different Treaty provisions, as explained in the White Paper. In addition, the Lisbon Treaty gives the EU a supporting, coordinating and supplementing competence for sport which calls for action to develop the European dimension in sport (Article 165 TFEU).
As the structure of the White Paper, based on three broad thematic chapters (the societal role of sport, the economic dimension of sport and the organisation of sport) and reflecting the Treaty provisions on sport, has been found useful by sport stakeholders and has become a widely accepted tool for framing EU-level activities and discussions, this structure is maintained in this Communication. Each chapter concludes with an illustrative, nonexhaustive list of possible issues for the Commission and the Member States to address within their respective spheres of competence.
Developing the European Dimension in Sport
