White Paper on sport

SUMMARY OF:

White Paper on Sport (COM(2007) 391 final)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE WHITE PAPER?

This white paper was one of the European Commission’s main contributions to the theme of sport and its role in the daily lives of European Union (EU) citizens.
It recognised the impact which sport can have on other EU policies.
It also identified the needs and specific characteristics of the world of sport.
It opened up future prospects for sport at EU level, while respecting EU law, the principle of subsidiarity and the independence of sports organisations.

KEY POINTS

Objectives

The main objectives of the white paper were to:
- set strategic guidelines;
- encourage debate on specific problems;
- give sport a higher profile in the EU decision-making process;
- highlight the needs and specific characteristics of the sector;
- identify the appropriate level of government for future action.
More specifically, the Commission sought to use the white paper to:
- ensure that the sport dimension is fully reflected in all areas of EU policy;
- increase legal clarity as regards the application of the EU’s acquis to sport and thereby help to improve sports governance in the EU.

Structure

The white paper addressed 3 themes:

the ‘societal role of sport’, i.e. what sport represents as a social phenomenon;
the ‘economic dimension of sport’, i.e. the contribution of sport to growth and job creation in the EU;
the ‘organisation of sport’, i.e. the role of public, private, economic and sporting organisations and bodies in the governance of sports.

Action plan

Along with the white paper, the Council adopted a work plan for 2014-2017. A new EU work plan for sport running from July 2017 to December 2020 is under way.
The 2014-2017 work plan includes a range of specific measures relating to the social and economic aspects of sport, such as health, social inclusion, voluntary work, education or external relations. These are as follows:
- developing guidelines on physical activity and setting up a European network to promote sport as a health-enhancing activity;
- fighting against doping in sport more effectively at European level;
- awarding a European label to schools which encourage involvement in physical activities;
- launching a study on voluntary work in sport;
- improving social inclusion and integration through sport, using EU programmes and resources;
- promoting the sharing of information, experiences and good practices between law-enforcement services and sports organisations in order to prevent racism and violence;
- collecting statistics that quantify the economic impact of sport and on which policy can be based;
- reviewing the public and private financing of sport;
- carrying out further work on the activities of players’ agents and the added value of possible EU action in this area (the subject of a 2011 Commission communication);
- better structuring of dialogue on sport at EU level, especially through an annual forum on sport;
- stepping up intergovernmental cooperation on sports issues;
- promoting the creation of European social dialogue committees in the sports sector, and providing support for employers and employees.

Monitoring

The Commission monitors the progress of initiatives through a structured dialogue with all the organisations involved in sport:

European sports federations;
European umbrella organisations for sport, such as the European Olympic Committees, the European Paralympic Committee and European non-governmental sport organisations;
national umbrella organisations for sport and national Olympic and Paralympic Committees;
other organisations active in sport represented at European level, including trade unions and employers' organisations;
other European and international organisations (bodies of the Council of Europe and the United Nations, UNESCO, World Health Organization, etc.).

Promoting partnerships and events

The Erasmus+ programme provides opportunities for sports organisations, public authorities and other organisations that contribute to the EU’s sports priorities. It supports projects designed to promote collaborative partnerships, events, evidence-based policy- making, and dialogue with sports organisations. The Erasmus+ Programme focuses on grassroots sport and pursues the following specific objectives:

tackling threats to the integrity of sport that involve more than one country, such as doping, match-fixing and violence, as well as intolerance and discrimination of all kinds;
promoting and supporting good governance in sport and dual careers of athletes;
promoting voluntary activities in sport, together with social inclusion, equal opportunities and awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activity through increased participation in, and equal access to, sport for all.

BACKGROUND

Sport, as a social and economic phenomenon, helps achieve the EU’s strategic objectives of solidarity and prosperity. It conveys the concepts of peace, tolerance, mutual understanding and education, in line with the European ideal.
For more information, see:
- Sport (European Commission)
- Measures designed to encourage sport (European Commission)

MAIN DOCUMENT

White Paper – White Paper on Sport (COM(2007) 391 final, 11.7.2007)

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