WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3426/97 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Creation of a Task Force on Sport
Date: 1997-10-31
Institutions: European Parliament, MATIKAINEN-KALLSTROEM
Subjects: action programme, sport

C 134/162

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 1997)

The Honourable Member has raised the issue of accommodation in the San Pio X district of Murcia which has
been  affected  by  the  Murcia  municipal  urban  renovation  plan.  The  EC  Treaty  does  not  refer  to  the  issue  of
housing policy, which is outside the scope of the responsibilities of the Commission and within the competence
of the Member States. Problems in relation to housing and accommodation must be considered in the framework
of the national policies of the Member States.

However, the Commission strongly supports the protection and reinforcement of individual social rights, and
welcomes the renewed commitment to fundamental social rights made by the Member States in the preamble to
the Amsterdam Treaty and Article 117 of the Treaty. Article 117 of the Amsterdam Treaty lists (cid:145)the combating of
social exclusion(cid:146) as one of the six objectives of European social policy. Article 118(2) of the new Treaty also
creates  the  possibility  to  develop  actions  to  encourage  co-operation  between  Member  States  to  promote  the
exchange  of  experiences  in  order  to  combat  social  exclusion.  The  Commission  is  currently  examining  the
possibilities which the Amsterdam Treaty could offer in relation to proposals for new measures in the field of
social exclusion, once the Treaty has been ratified by the Member States and enters into force.

Social  exclusion  is  a  multidimensional  problem.  Precarious  housing  and  homelessness  are  perhaps  the  most
visible forms of social exclusion. The Commission will consider housing exclusion problems in its future social
exclusion action in the same way as other factors that contribute to social exclusion.

As regards the protection of the rights of children in relation to housing policies, this issue is also outside the
scope of the responsibilities of the Commission. However, the Commission underlines that all Member States
have ratified the Convention of children’s rights, signed in 1989.

(98/C 134/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3426/97

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission

(31 October 1997)

Subject: Creation of a Task Force on Sport

In its report on the role of the European Union in the field of sport (the Pack report) Parliament proposed that the
Commission set up a Task Force on sport and draw up a Green Paper with a view to the elaboration of a proper
full-scale action plan in the field of sport. In considering the matter the Commission took a positive attitude to
these projects, but as yet nothing has happened.

In view of the above, what measures does the Commission propose taking, on what timescale, to set up a Sports
Task Force and to draw up an action plan?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1997)

The Commission takes a positive attitude to the projects put forward in the report on the role of the Community in
the field of sport. One of those projects was a request to set up a task force on sport and to draw up a green paper.

Since  the  adoption  of  the  Pack  report  by  the  Parliament  a  unit  has  been  created  to  respond  positively  to  the
proposals  made  in  the  report.  The  unit  will  continue  the  work  of  the  former  sport  sector  and  will  intensify
contacts with the world of sport.

A  communication  on  sport  is  under  preparation;  it  might  be  followed  by  a  green  paper.  The  communication
should be adopted by the Commission before August 1998.