15.6.2012   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 169/138

—

having regard to Article 165 TFEU,

—

having regard to Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.

whereas sport has become a new competence of the EU,

B.

whereas sport is an important factor in social cohesion and contributes to many policy objectives, such as health promotion, education, social integration, the fight against discrimination, culture as well as crime reduction and the fight against drug addiction,

C.

whereas the vast majority of Europeans participating in sport and recreational physical activity are engaged at a grassroots sports level,

D.

whereas the economic crisis and the pressure on governments’ spending could have serious consequences for funding of grassroots sports,

1.

Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote sport for all, strengthening its educational and integrating role, with special attention paid to under-represented groups such as women, seniors, and disabled people;

2.

Calls on Member States to ensure that grassroots sport does not suffer from major budget cuts in times of crisis;

3.

Calls on the Commission to pay the necessary attention to grassroots sports in the upcoming Communication on sport and to ensure sufficient funding for the EU Sport Programme from 2012 onwards;

4.

Calls on the Commission to take due account of the results of the study on the financing of grassroots sports with regard to a possible EU initiative on gambling issues;

5.

Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories (1), to the Commission and the Parliaments of the Member States.