WRITTEN QUESTION P-2066/00

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Euro 2000 and the sale of black market tickets

The French judicial authorities are currently investigating the firm of ISL-France, a subsidiary of the marketing bureau ISL, which is the Euro 2000 foundation's most important partner in organising the 2000 European Cup.

ISL-France is suspected, during the World Cup in 1998 in France, of having sold tickets allocated to it on the black market. The parent company ISL is alleged to have been aware of these activities.

The problems surrounding ticket sales during the 1998 World Cup led the Commission at the time to investigate possible breaches of the competition rules by ISL-France.

An active black market in tickets has also been observed in connection with Euro 2000, and seems to have been thriving in recent weeks in spite of tickets being issued bearing the name of the holder.

1. What measures have been taken in consultation with the Euro 2000 foundation to prevent the sale of black market tickets for Euro 2000?

2. What lessons were learnt from the 1998 debacle, and what measures have been taken in consultation with ISL to prevent the sale of black market tickets?

3. Does it agree that more intensive European cooperation, for example in the exchange of information in the broad sense, could help combat the trade in black market tickets?

4. Does it propose to take further European measures seeking to achieve a joint approach to the problem of the trade in black market tickets?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Ticketing arrangements for Euro 2000 were established by the Union of European football associations (UEFA) acting through its local organising committee, the Euro 2000 Foundation as organiser of the tournament. These arrangements were notified to the Commission in March 1999 in order to determine their compliance or otherwise with European competition rules. The Commission did not enter into discussions either with the Euro 2000 Foundation or ISL as regards the appropriateness of the specific measures intended by UEFA to prevent black market ticket sales.

On 7 June 2000 the Commission informed UEFA by way of comfort letter that its notified sales arrangements, including those which, for reasons of security, were necessary to prevent the sale of tickets on the black market, complied with European competition rules. In particular, the Commission welcomed UEFA's decision to allow European consumers a genuine possibility to obtain tickets for all matches under fair and non-discriminatory conditions to the extent that was appropriate bearing in mind the need to offer tickets to supporters of the different participating countries. These arrangements contrasted sharply with those implemented in the run up to the 1998 World Cup, which discriminated against consumers resident outside France and in relation to which the Commission took action against the tournament's local organising committee.

The Commission is of the opinion that stronger European co-operation in information exchange, especially among police forces, is necessary to combat trade in black market tickets. Such information exchange must at all time comply with the Community legislation on data protection.

The organisation of Euro 2000 will be evaluated by a Dutch-Belgian project, which is financially supported by the Union's OISIN programme on police and customs co-operation. The Commission will await the conclusions of this project before it decides if further measures at Community level are necessary, including measures to combat trade in black market tickets.