Brussels, 12/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we pointed out earlier, the Commission stresses in a press release after information provided on Wednesday to the College by Commissioner Viviane Reding, that it does not plan to contribute either disproportionately or without adequate budgetary control to the financing of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). While recalling its commitment to fight doping, the Commission considers that the conditions for WADA financing are not met.
In its conclusions of 4 December last, the Council had contemplated making a Community contribution to the operational budget of the World Anti-Doping Agency as of 2002. The European Council of Nice had received these conclusions favourably and agreed to "intensify European cooperation" in the fight against doping. The Commission shares the wish expressed by Member States to make a financial contribution to the WADA and is willing to present a proposal along these lines on the basis of Article 152 of the EC Treaty (public health). An eventual proposal, however, presupposes that certain conditions are fulfilled preserving Community interests and, above all, the prerogatives of the budgetary authority. It is mainly a matter of preventing: - the EU from being in a situation where the WADA's Foundation Board (comprising an equal number of representatives of the sports world and representatives of the Member States of the WADA) could impose upon it budgetary constraints without the agreement of the Community budgetary authority; - the Community from being prevented from exercising permanent control on the use of its contribution; - the EU financial contribution from being disproportionate to its decision-making weight within the WADA.
At the present stage of things, the Commission can only note that these conditions are not met. It is in fact expected that Europe will finance 47.5% of government funding for the WADA, while America and Asia, with the same number of representatives as Europe on the Foundation Board, would provide 29% and 20.5% respectively. Neither has WADA been able to provide precise budgetary forecasts for the next five years and there is the risk, according to the current statutes of the Agency, (the annual budget being adopted by a majority) that the Foundation Board will impose new budgetary constraints on the Community by placing the European representatives in a minority. The EU would only have two seats, two others going to the Council of Europe, out of the 18 governmental seats of the Foundation Council.
"Given this situation, and although Europe is willing to show greater solidarity than the other continents and thus underpin its role as leader in the fight against doping, respect for the budgetary authority and her concern for Community interests prompt her not to ask the Commission to put forward a funding proposal", said Viviane Reding. She added that: "this in no way calls into question the Commission's resolve to make a determined effort to stem doping in sport and to take part in the work of the WADA. Accordingly, the Community could this year support three WADA pilot actions to an amount of EUR 2.5 million". The Commission also envisages a Community programme to fight doping. Ms Reding hopes to begin negotiations with WADA with a view to uniting the conditions for Community participation in the Agency's operational budget as soon as possible. The WADA Foundation Council meeting on 21 August this year in Tallinn then the meeting of the EU15 Sports Ministers on 12 November (the last meeting of the Sports Ministers had been held on 6 November 2000 under French Presidency) will be key venues to mark the common determination of Europeans for participation that is legally sound and politically acceptable to the WADA. The Commission will, in 2002, continue its support at a substantial budgetary level for WADA projects in the areas of Community competence such as research, standardisation and health education.