Dialogue with principal stakeholders in the world of sport and the fight against doping were the central themes of the ‘sport’ section of the Education, Culture, Audiovisual and Sport Council, held on 18 November in Brussels (see separate article on ‘culture’ section).

The Council adopted a resolution establishing a high-level structured dialogue with sport stakeholders. Such a dialogue will allow an ongoing exchange of views on priorities, implementation and follow-up to EU cooperation in the field of sport. It will take the form of a regular informal meeting (probably a dinner) of leading representatives of the EU public authorities and the sports movement to discuss sporting issues in the EU. This dinner will generally take place in the margins of the Council session, although the inaugural meeting will be organised in December during the Belgian Presidency.

The conclusions adopted by the Council on the role of the EU in the international fight against doping reiterate the need to coordinate EU and member state positions ahead of meetings of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in particular in relation to the EU acquis, for example on the free movement of athletes and the protection of privacy and personal data. The WADA was created in 1999 following the events of the Tour de France in 1998. Its mission is to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all its forms. It is managed by a Foundation Board comprising 38 members representing governments and the Olympic and sports movements. Five of these members are representatives of European governments, some from previous, current and future Presidencies of the Council. The next meeting of the Foundation Board will be held on 20-21 November in Montreal, Canada.

Lastly, the Council adopted conclusions on the role of sport as a source of and a driver for active social inclusion. In this text, the Council considers that sport can be a powerful instrument to strengthen cohesion in European societies, with professional athletes being role models for society. It identifies three common priorities for promoting social inclusion through sport: the accessibility of sport activity for all citizens (‘sport for all’ principle), better use of the potential of sport as a contribution to community building, social cohesion and growth, and transnational exchanges of strategies and methodologies. The Council invites member states and the Commission to promote equal opportunities in the area of sport and encourage the participation of those from disadvantaged and migrant communities.

Ministers also considered that, in this area, EU action should above all relate to exchanges of experience and of best practices.