Lisbon Treaty gives a boost to sport
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is delighted to see the position of sport in the European Union (EU) strengthened through the Lisbon Treaty. The new EU Treaty will come into effect tomorrow, and, for the first time ever, will provide a legal basis for sport – something for which the Olympic and Sports Movement has been fighting for the last 15 years. Articles 6 and 165 stress the significance of sport in Europe, recognise its specific nature and define the promotion of sport as a Community objective.
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said: “We have come a long way. I thank the member states for their strong commitment to sport over the last years. The impact of sport in the EU is huge, as is the influence of EU policies on sport. It really is time to move from a case-by-case approach to an environment where the specific characteristics of sport can be taken into account properly.”
The reference to sport in the Lisbon Treaty, which also mentions the “specific nature of sport”, provides the necessary instrument to do so. It should allow sport to be looked at not only from a purely economic point of view, but also from its voluntary structures as well as its social and educational role. Furthermore, sport’s fundamental principle of financial re-distribution for the purpose of sporting development distinguishes it from other industries. In this regard, the Olympic and Sports Movement has been confronted with several challenges in the past, especially when it came to judgments of the European Court of Justice on pure sporting rules. For instance, the protection of national teams and the regulations concerning free movement of professional athletes need to be addressed in the light of sport-specific rules and the particular characteristics of international sport.
Whilst the European Union is not given any direct legal competences for sport, its role will be to support and promote actions of the member states in this field, following the principle of subsidiarity. “We fully support this approach since the European Union should support and not regulate sport”, stated Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC).
This indicates that sport organisations in Europe will gain momentum through more funding opportunities. The reference to sport in the Lisbon Treaty enables the set-up of a specific EU sports funding programme as well as a better mainstreaming of sport in existing programmes.
In the coming months, the focus of the Olympic and Sports Movement, which took a clear and unified position on the autonomy and specificity of sport last year, will now be on the proper implementation of articles 6 and 165. It is about protecting sport’s autonomy on the one side, and safeguarding the integrity of sporting competitions on the other side. “We are ready to contribute with our expertise to fill the new articles on sport with life and make it a success story for everybody. The Spanish government has already invited us to work closely together in the first half of 2010. We are ready to do so and also to continue with the regular and structured dialogue that we have built up with the EU institutions”, said Mario Pescante, IOC Vice-President and Chairman of the IOC International Relations Commission.
Under the Spanish Presidency, a formal Council of Sports Ministers will take place for the first time ever.
ECA Calls for Full Club Involvement in EU Initiatives on Football Governance
In a frank speech delivered today at the EU Sport Forum in Biarritz, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), called on the EU to ensure that football clubs were included at the very heart of all decision-making in establishing guidelines and frameworks designed to improve governance and fair play in professional football.
“Consultation alone is not enough,” stated Rummenigge. “Decisions with a direct influence on clubs, their management, employees and fans need to be discussed and sanctioned by those stakeholders.”
Rummenigge questioned certain decisions taken in the past without proper consultation as having had an extremely negative consequence on football in general and clubs in particular. The Bosman ruling had some negative effect causing salary inflation, spiraling transfer fees and other practices which have undermined financial soundness in the game.
He went on to pledge ECA’s commitment to work with the football family to help set the sport back on a sound footing, based on solid investment over the longer term and on healthy competition, and pointed out the Professional Football Strategy Council as doing excellent work in the governance of football.
ECA
The European Club Association is the sole, independent body representing football clubs at European level, and takes its place at the high table of European football along with UEFA, and official bodies representing players and the leagues.
The formation of ECA marks an end to disharmony in the European football family, and clears the way for the collaboration of all parties in building the future of the game in Europe. Through ECA, and for the first time in some years, clubs now have a powerful voice in decision-making that shapes the future of professional football in Europe.
ECA replaces the G-14 group and the European Club Forum both dissolved early in 2008 and is fully recognized by UEFA and FIFA. ECA is committed to play a major and constructive role in helping shape the future of football, for the benefit of all concerned with the game.
ECA – LEADING THE WAY FOR FOOTBALL CLUBS IN EUROPE