Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on the European Union Work Plan for Sport (1 January 2021-30 June 2024)

(2020/C 419/01)

THE COUNCIL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

1. RECALLING Article 6 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, according to which sport is an area where action at EU level should support, coordinate and supplement the actions of Member States.

2. RECALLING that the Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function ( 1 )

3. RECALLING that the Union action shall be aimed at developing the European dimension of sport, by promoting fairness and openness in sporting competitions and cooperation between bodies responsible for sports, and by protecting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen, especially the youngest sportsmen and sportswomen ( 2 )

4. RECOGNISING that sport could contribute to achieve the overall political priorities of the EU, and in particular the goals of various other policy areas such as education, health, youth, social affairs, inclusion, equality, gender equality, urban and rural development, transportation, environment, tourism, employment, innovation, sustainability, digitalisation and economy; and that those policy areas could support the promotion of sport based on cross-sectoral cooperation.

5. UNDERSCORING that, in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development ( 3 ) and therefore can help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

7. WELCOMING the outcomes of the implementation of the EU Work Plan for Sport 2017-2020, as well as the Commission Report on its implementation and relevance ( 7 )

8. ACKNOWLEDGING the need for appropriate cooperation with the sport movement and other relevant stakeholders and with competent international governmental and non-governmental organisations, including the Council of Europe, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

ESTABLISH A EUROPEAN UNION WORK PLAN FOR SPORT FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JANUARY 2021 TO 30 JUNE 2024:

9. The GUIDING OBJECTIVES of this European Union Work Plan for Sport (hereinafter, the EU Work Plan) are to: — Strengthen an integrity- and values-based sport in the EU. — Strengthen the recovery and the crisis resilience of the sport sector during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Support a sustainable and evidence-based sports policy. — Increase participation in sport and health-enhancing physical activity in order to promote an active and environment-friendly lifestyle, social cohesion and active citizenship. — Ensure, through cross-sectoral cooperation, the awareness of other EU policy domains of the important contribution that sport can make to Europe’s socially and environmentally sustainable growth, digitalisation as well as recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and future resilience, as well as to achieve the SDGs. — Strengthen the international dimension of EU sport policy, especially through exchanges and collaboration with governments and stakeholders outside the EU. — Provide a follow-up to the previous three EU Work Plans for Sport and to other sport-related EU documents, such as Council conclusions and resolutions. — Continue the exchange of knowledge and experience between the EU Member States and the Commission. — Intensify the dialogue and cooperation at EU level with the sport movement and other relevant stakeholders and institutions, both within and outside the field of sport and physical activity. — Support as appropriate the implementation of the Sport Chapter of the Erasmus+ Programme.

10. The EU Work Plan deals with the following priority areas: — Protect integrity and values in sport; — Socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sport; — Promotion of participation in sport and health-enhancing physical activity. The concrete key topics, themes, goals, working formats, possible outcomes, target dates and responsibilities are set out and explained in Annexes I and II to this document.

11. This EU Work Plan is a flexible instrument. Subsequent changes or amendments may become necessary to respond in a timely manner to upcoming or unexpected developments and pressing issues in the field of sport and physical activity, while taking into account the priorities of the future presidencies of the Council.

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES TO:

12. Engage in the implementation of this EU Work Plan and where appropriate contribute with their expertise and experience to the various working formats.

13. Consider taking into account the knowledge and outcomes achieved in the implementation of this EU Work Plan when developing sport or other relevant policies at national and sub-national level, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity and the autonomy of sport.

14. Inform, and where appropriate consult, the national sport movement and other relevant stakeholders on the implementation of this EU Work Plan and disseminate the knowledge and outcomes, in order to facilitate the practical relevance and visibility of the activities.

INVITE THE PRESIDENCIES OF THE COUNCIL TO:

15. Take into account this EU Work Plan when developing their programme and build upon the outcomes already achieved.

16. Consider organising meetings at working level with relevant representatives of the sport movement and other sport stakeholders inter alia to exchange information on the implementation of this EU Work Plan, to explore mutual ambitions and to provide information about the planned priorities of the incoming Council presidencies ( 8 )

17. At the end of the term covered by the present resolution, and on the basis of a report to be prepared by the Commission, propose a new draft EU Work Plan for the next period, if appropriate.

INVITE THE COMMISSION TO:

18. Engage, together with the Member States, the sport movement and other relevant stakeholders, in implementing this EU Work Plan and support the Member States with its expertise and experience from all relevant policy sectors, in accordance with Annexes I and II to this Resolution.

19. Contribute to evidence based policies in the EU and its Member states in particular through studies and surveys.

20. Continue informing the Member States, the sport movement and other relevant stakeholders about ongoing and planned initiatives and funding opportunities in the area of sport as well as in other EU policy areas relevant to sport and, where appropriate, consult member states in advance, through the relevant Council preparatory bodies and channels ( 9 ) , on implementing specific EU Work Plan initiatives.

21. Promote the mainstreaming of sport and physical activity in other EU policy areas.

22. Disseminate the knowledge and the outcomes achieved in the implementation of this EU Work Plan in order to ensure the practical relevance and visibility of the activities.

23. Consider providing an online platform to store and exchange reports, best practices or relevant documents to facilitate information sharing between Member States.

24. Submit, during the second half of 2023 and on the basis of voluntary contributions from Member States, a report on the implementation and relevance of this EU Work Plan. This report will be the basis for the preparation of a possible successor EU Work Plan during the first half of 2024.

INVITE THE SPORT MOVEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO:

25. Engage with the Member States and the Commission in the implementation of this EU Work Plan, and contribute with their expertise and experience to the various working formats.

26. Consider disseminating the knowledge and outcomes achieved in the implementation of this EU Work Plan, and taking them into account in their own activities.

(1) See Article 165 (1) second sub-paragraph on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

(2) See Article 165 (2) TFEU.

(3) https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E, see paragraph 37.

(4) OJ C 162, 1.6.2011, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 183, 14.6.2014, p. 12.

(6) OJ C 189, 15.6.2017, p. 5.

(7) Doc. 9469/20 + ADD 1.

(8) This meeting could for example take place in the margins of the annual EU Sport Forum. On the EU side, participants in this meeting could be the representatives of the current Trio Presidency, the incoming Trio Presidency and the Commission.

(9) In particular, the Council Working Party on Sport.