The Hungarian Presidency wants member states to adopt the “Resolution on a European Work plan for Sport” by May. This was announced by State Minister for Sports of the Ministry of National Resources, Attila Czene, on 22 February, after the annual Sports Forum organised by the Commission in Budapest.
Mr Czene held talks with representatives of various international, European and Hungarian sports organisations, on the margins of the Sports Forum.
“An important message from the current meeting in Budapest may be the adoption of an action schedule, which can provide grounds for continuing work. This way, when we will hand over the baton to the incoming Polish Presidency, we should feel that we have done our best to develop this program”Attila Czene said, evaluating the results of the two-day conference. The State Minister stated: although sports is fundamentally within the powers of member states, the Treaty of Lisbon has already made a significant step towards to developing the European dimension of sports. Its provisions authorise the EU to support, coordinate and supplement member state level initiatives.
Attila Czene declared: the next step for the Presidency is for member states to develop an appropriate working plan. The aim is to launch the Sports Framework Program by 2014, which would further widen the opportunities for European sports, both in terms of regulation and finance.
The European Dimension of Sports
The organisations participating in the conference made suggestions and shared their experiences concerning the working plan, which is currently under development. Andrulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, pointed out to the press conference that “an open dialogue may help us to determine the way forward in the field of sports, and the strategy that should be adopted by EU Sports Ministers.”
Commissioner Vassiliou presented the Commission’s communication on sports, which was prepared in January, detailing the development of the European dimension of sports. Speaking of the objectives specified in the communication, the Commissioner highlighted the accomplishment of equal opportunities for men and women in sports, the issue of transfer of athletes, especially in football, and the importance of the fight against doping.
The Fight Against Doping
“There is more money in doping than in heroin trafficking” emphasised David Howman, Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), adding that “these substances destroy both sports and the health of young individuals.” The head of the anti-doping agency staid: “we pay special attention to combating the use of illicit drugs, those who encourage the athletes to cheat must be brought to justice.”
Contributing as a representative of the European Parliament, Ivo Belet also talked about the importance of the fight against doping,, and urges for special attention to combating the trafficking of minor football players.
The representatives of sports organisations could also discuss these matters with competent EU ministers attending the informal meeting. The ministerial discussion on the joint strategy will be continued at the informal meeting on 23 February in Gödöllő.
(eu2011.hu)
