Following the informal meeting of sports minister of the European Union which took place over 6 and 7 July 2015, Sports Minister Romain Schneider has declared the two days of reflection on topics that the Luxembourg Presidency had chosen to be discussed, a success.
Together with the European Commissioner responsible for sport, Tibor Navracsics, the Luxembourg Presidency had sought to highlight the positive aspects of sport as an activity that provides physical wellness, brings people together, creates jobs and fosters social cohesion. The Ministry of Sports reported that it was these aspects of sports that it wished to emphasise during the six months of Luxembourg's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The ministers' wish to strengthen the role and representation of the EU in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was also conveyed. The ministers stated that this international institution, aimed at promoting and monitoring the fight against all forms of doping in sports, was imperative for the ethics of sport and the health of its athletes. The Council of Sport Ministers which will take place in Brussels in November 2015 will therefore analyse how the Council may meet the goal of further improving the representation of the EU and the process of coordination between Member States.
Regarding current issues in the governance of sport, many delegations, while recognising the limits of their powers, have expressed their major concerns and have appealed to the sports world to ensure respect for the principles of ethics and integrity of sport.
On the occasion of the informal ministerial meeting of EU sports, The Presidency reportedly also sought to strengthen communication between the sports movement on the one hand, and public authorities and the European institutions, on the other. Four prominent leaders of European and international sports federations have therefore been invited to submit to the Ministers their expectations of political powers, in particular to recognise section 165 of the Treaty of Lisbon. This Treaty asks, amongst others, that the Union develop 'the European dimension in sport, by promoting fairness and openness in sporting competitions and cooperation between bodies responsible for sports', and foster cohesion between sport representatives and European and international organisations.
The priority of the local training of young players, the issue of financial 'fair play' and property issues of players by third parties have also been discussed with representatives of the sports movement. The societal and economic dimension of sport were additionally referred to several times during the exchange.
On relations between the European Union and the Council of Europe on sport, Ministers took the opportunity for a constructive dialogue with the representative of the European Council to aim for even closer cooperation in their common struggle against negative aspects of sport such as violence, doping or manipulation of sporting competitions.
In conjunction with the informal meeting of sports ministers, the three countries of Spain, Poland and Luxembourg also completed the signing of the convention against manipulation of sports competitions of the Council of Europe, thus hoping to boost the process of European signatures. The Presidency reported that it was honoured to perform said signature in Luxembourg in the presence of Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Parliament, and Snežana Samardžić-Marković, Director General of Democracy of the Council of Europe.
Photo by Geoff Thompson (Romain Schneider)
