With sport just a year old as an EU competence, the Hungarian Presidency will shape policy for years to come. Under the Lisbon Treaty, the EU picked up a supporting, coordinating and supplementing competence for sport. Article 165 enables actions promoting European sporting issues and developing the European dimension in sport. Here, the Commission is set, on 13 January, to present its ideas on how the new powers should be exploited. This will be the major item on the incoming Presidency’s agenda.

Sports Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou is setting out the EU executive’s plans over the next few years to implement the new treaty powers on sport (see box). The centrepiece in her communication is a plan identifying targeted actions where the Commission believes the EU can provide “high added value”. However, given current budgetary constraints, the first real EU-funded sports programmes outlined in the action plan may only appear under the next financial perspectives, from 2014.

Guided by Budapest, EU ministers will respond to the Commission’s detailed action plan. This lists very specific steps, based around Article 165, both for the Commission and member states. Ideas to be proposed include health-enhancing physical activity; EU accession to the Anti-Doping Convention of the Council of Europe; representation in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA); criminal justice harmonisation in doping; sports training and education; qualifications; social inclusion; gender equality; integration of immigrants and minority groups, fighting violence, racism, xenophobia, homophobia and related intolerance.

MONEY TALKS TOO

The Hungarians will be first to steer debate on the economic dimension of sport. The Commission will examine the question of ensuring that sport-related intellectual property rights are respected. Organisational questions are not forgotten for ministers. These include good governance, standards, free movement and nationality of sports people, transfer rules, sport agents and match fixing.

Other aspects that the Commission communication will present to ministers include the financial returns to sport from gambling and betting activities. To what extent do sports ministers want to contribute to a review of the common VAT system and its impact on sport? Should the Commission, if necessary, formulate guidance? The Commission is also monitoring the application of EU state aid rules to sport. Are there limits to public aid in this sector? Ministers will be called upon to give their views on using the European Regional Development Fund to support sport and outdoor activities.

An informal meeting of sports ministers should take place on 22-23 February with the Councils being held on 14 February and 2-3 May.

Background

In executing its supporting, coordinating and supplementing competence for sport, Article 165 mentions that the EU should focus on specific aspects, such as the social and educational function of sport; voluntary activities; specificity of sport; fairness and openness in sporting competitions; physical and moral integrity of sports people; cooperation between sports bodies; and cooperation with third countries and competent international organisations. Due to its cross-cutting nature, sport will obviously also be strongly influenced by the other older and traditional EU policies. Other new or modified provisions of the Lisbon Treaty also impact on sport, including Articles 82-86 (judicial cooperation in criminal matters), 152 (social dialogue), 15 (services of general economic interest), Protocol 26 (services of general interest), and Declaration 21 (personal data).