Brussels, 11/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - In the afternoon of Monday 10 May, sports ministers met for the first formal Council since the Lisbon Treaty came into effect, giving the European Union specific responsibility for cooperation on sports issues. “Sport will no longer be simply an economic activity … its social and educational role has been acknowledged,” said Spanish Sports Minister Jaime Lissavetzky. “We are not starting out from nothing, but from the White Paper adopted in 2007, the Pierre de Coubertin action plan, all the work done by the Commission and member states,” he added, concluding, “We want a sports policy which will make Europe a leader, based on the social dimension”. European Commissioner for Sport Androulla Vasilliou was satisfied with the support from member states for the policy envisaged by the Commission. Discussions would inform the communication she was preparing for November, she said.
While there continues to be subsidiarity in sport, just as there is in culture and youth affairs, as member states pointed out, there were a number of areas where there can be cooperation and the European Union can bring added value to national initiatives. As Bulgaria suggested, member states must not spread their efforts too thinly, but should concentrate cooperation in well targeted areas. Thus, delegations unanimously proposed coordinated action against doping. Germany even proposed setting up a European network of agencies involved in combating doping and a task force to assess progress in tackling doping and new dangers that may develop. Member states also proposed to cooperate in promoting the benefits of sport for citizens' health and equally as something of great use for social inclusion, in promoting and protecting voluntary activity in sport, in improving protection of minors, in tackling discrimination in sport (against women and the handicapped). France specifically raised the issue of the increasing indebtedness of football clubs and the concerns of UEFA on this matter. In the communication, “we will set ourselves some priorities,” Vassiliou said. She set out the objectives which were close to the position of the member states: (1) promoting the social and educational functions of sport; (2) promoting physical activity, which is very important for good health, with support for voluntary activities; (3) combating racism and discrimination; (4) guaranteeing the moral and physical integrity of sportsmen and women; (5) ensuring protection of minors; (6) consolidating dialogue with stakeholders in the world of sport. (I.L./transl.rt)