(2004/C 65 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2261/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(8 July 2003)

Subject:   Survey of government support for professional football clubs

The Netherlands' Government, further to the letter of 11 July 2002 to it from the Commission (DG Competition H3/NTI/amv D(2002) 0422), has had a survey carried out of the type and extent of the financial relationship between 33 local authorities and professional football clubs (and their home grounds). As a result of the survey, the Netherlands' Government is now taking action to eliminate the lack of clarity surrounding the relationship between government and professional football clubs, having regard to the role they play in society, in a collaborative effort involving central government, provinces, local authorities, the Royal Dutch Football Association and the Commission.

However, such lack of clarity is not confined solely to the Netherlands. A similar survey of the situation throughout Europe would therefore be particularly welcome.

Has the Commission voiced its concerns to other Member States about suspected State aid? If so, which?

What does the Commission think of a Europe-wide survey of government support for professional football clubs? Is the Commission willing to have such a survey carried out?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 August 2003)

The Commission is currently assessing several potential state aid measures. In so far, questions have been posed to the Italian government regarding a decree allowing an apparently favourable application of accounting rules to professional sports clubs. The answers to these questions are currently being assessed. At the same time, based on a complaint, the sale of certain real estate to football club AZ in the Netherlands is under assessment. In this case the Commission has opened on 23 July 2003 a formal procedure. The Commission also recalls that it examined a French government's notification about public subsidies for professional sports clubs in 2001 and decided not to object because the measures were designed to assist education and initial training and as such constituted an educational or comparable scheme but not a state aid under the EC Treaty.

The Commission maintains that its policy should be developed on the basis of individual cases. Therefore, the Commission does at this stage not intend to launch a Europe-wide investigation regarding state aid to professional football clubs.