Michal Krejza, Head of Sport UnitDG Education & Culture, European Commission

London, 20 October 2011

European Commission’s Priorities for Sport

Topics of the presentation

• Good governance

• Financing of Sport:

• Sustainable financing

• EU funding

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Good governance

2011 Communication: promotion of good governance in sport

No single EU model but common underlying principles: autonomy within the limits of the law, democracy, transparency and accountability in decision-making, and inclusiveness in the representation of interested stakeholders

2011 Council Resolution on EU Work Plan for Sport: setting up of Expert Group on Good Governance

First meeting of the Group: 6 December 2011 24 Member States confirmed their participation in the

Group Active UK role (chair/co-chair)

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Good governance

Topics for the Expert Group: Develop European dimension of integrity in sport with

initial focus on match fixing – recommendations by mid-2012

Develop principles of transparency concerning good governance – initial set of recommendations by end 2012

Address issues related to the activities of sports agents including transfer rules for young players – follow-up to Commission’s conference on agents and study on transfers by mid- and end-2013

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Good governance

Commission’s initiatives: EU Conference on Sports Agents, Brussels 9-10

November 2011 Study on the economic and legal aspects of transfers of

players – evaluation of received offers ongoing, contractor selected by the end of 2011, results available end 2012

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Good governance

Preparatory Actions in the field of Sport 2011: Good governance as a priority for funding 108 projects received in total, 59 on good governance 12 projects selected, 8 on good governance Of the 8 good governance projects, 4 were presented by

UK organisations Sport and Recreation Alliance among the selected

projects (project focusing on Boards)

• Europe 2020 Strategy:- Smart, sustainable, inclusive growth- EU-wide targets- “Streamlining” of policies into Europe 2020 objectives

• EU Budget Review:- Multi-annual Financial Framework post-2014: COM proposals by end 2011- intelligent spending + resources (to be seen in light of economic climate and with regard to long-term challenges)- core principles (delivering key policy objectives, EU added value, real/measurable impact)

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GeneralEU context

Financing of sport

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Communication

Structure of the 2011 Communication on sport

1) Introduction• Relevance of the White Paper, policy context, EU

added value

2-4) Three thematic chapters• Societal role of sport• Economic dimension of sport• Organisation of sport

5) External dimension

6) Conclusion

Staff Working Document: Free movement

COMMUNICATION

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Communication

Structure of second thematic chapter

Economic dimension of sport(4 themes, 9 actions)

Evidence-based policy making

Sustainable financing

(intellectual property rights,

collective selling, gambling)

State aid Regionaldevelopment,employability

COMMUNICATION

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Sustainablefinancing of sport

Ensure that intellectual property rights that might arise in the coverage of sport events are taken into account in the implementation of the Digital Agenda initiative (see QC Leisure ruling).

Launch a study to analyse sport organisers’ rights and image rights in sport from the perspective of the EU legal framework.

In cooperation with the sport movement, explore ways to strengthen financial solidarity mechanisms within sports while fully respecting EU competition rules.

Based on the results of the EU study on the funding of grassroots sport, consider best practice among existing funding mechanisms for transparent and sustainable financing of sport.

New frameworkCOMMUNICATION

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Applicationof

EU State aidrules to sport

---------Regional

developmentand

employability

Monitor the application of State aid law in the field of sport and consider guidance if the number of sport-related State aid cases increases.

--------------------------------- Fully exploit the possibilities of the ERDF to support sport

infrastructure and sustainable activities in sport and outdoors as a tool for regional and rural development, and of the ESF to strengthen the skills and employability of workers in the sport sector.

New frameworkCOMMUNICATION

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• WP action; launched in 2009 (MARKT (lead) + EAC)• Identifies typical sport funding models in the EU• Analyses legislative framework impacting the funding

of grassroots sport• Outlines future trends in revenue from different

funding sources• Includes key results of the survey of grassroots sport

clubs• Publication: autumn 2011

EU study: Grassroots sport funding

EU funding

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PreparatoryActionsin the

field ofSport

• Three years: 2009, 2010, 2011• Different topics covered by supported projects:• 2009: health-enhancing physical activity,

gender, disability, education and training• 2010: volunteering, doping, social inclusion• 2011: racism & violence, good governance

EU funding

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PreparatoryActionsin the

field ofSport

• Special events• Studies: nationality and individual sports,

contribution of sport to growth and employment, transfers

• Conferences: doping, licensing systems, EU Sport Forums

• Survey: Eurobarometer

EU funding

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“Main-streaming”

of Sportin other

EUProgrammes

• Lifelong Learning• Youth in Action• Fundamental Rights and Citizenship• Fight against Crime• 7th Framework Programme (RTD)• Europe for Citizens• Structural funds

EU funding

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Future EU

SportProgramme?

• Communication from the Commission: “A budget for Europe 2020” (29 June 2011)

• Sport as sub-programme of “Education Europe”• Topics to be covered:• Tackling transnational threats to sport such as

doping, violence, racism, intolerance• Developing guidelines for dual careers and

benchmarks for good governance• Addressing wider socioeconomic challenges such as

social inclusion

EU funding

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Indicative Timetable: Adoption of the EU Sport Programme (2014-2020)

2014+

- Programme Implementation

2011

- Evaluation concludes

- Impact Assessment

- Drafting of decision for the future

Programme (legal base)

- Adoption by the Commission

2012-2013

- Discussions in the Council and the Parliament

(ordinary legislative

procedure)

2010:

- Consultations

- Start of evaluation of Preparatory Actions and

Special Events

EU funding

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Thank you for your attention!