WRITTEN QUESTION No. 56/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Travel packages for football supporters
Date: 1998-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: United Kingdom, exclusive distribution agreement, package travel, restriction on competition, sporting event, sports body

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/95

(98/C 223/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0055/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Brothels in Greece and the rest of the EU

In order to run a brothel in Greece a permit is needed (this has so far been issued by the police, but a bill is
currently before the Greek Parliament proposing that this permit should be issued by the municipal authorities),
while prostitutes must register with the police, take out an identity booklet and undergo a medical examination
and give blood samples twice a week.

The  above  arrangements  apply  to  Greek  prostitutes,  but  not  to  the  thousands  of  other  prostitutes  from  third
countries who have come to Greece and are working illegally in brothels.

Will  the  Commission  give  a  precise  account  of  the  conditions  governing  the  running  of  brothels  and  the
obligations for prostitutes in the other EU countries?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 1998)

The Commission is active against the trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has in
particular  prepared  a  communication  to  the  Council  and  to  the  Parliament  in  November  1996 (1)  in  order  to
promote a coherent European approach to this issue and is managing an exchange and training programme for
those responsible for combating trade in human beings (STOP programme set up by joint action of 29 November
1996  adopted  by  the  Council).  However  it  is  up  to  each  Member  State  to  decide  on  the  rules  concerning
prostitution and the Community has thus no competence in this area.

(1)  COM(96) 567.

(98/C 223/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0056/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Travel packages for football supporters

It has been brought to my attention that, for their match against Atle·tico Madrid on 16 September 1997, Leicester
City Football Club would only sell tickets as part of a travel package.

Given  the  Commission(cid:146)s  answer  to  an  earlier  question  of  mine  of  this  subject  (P-3480/95) (1),  does  not  the
Commission feel that Leicester City Football Club is almost certainly contravening EU competition law?

(1)  OJ C 137, 8.5.1996, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 1998)

The Honourable Member draws the Commission(cid:146)s attention to the practice of Leicester City football club in
connection with its away match against Atletico Madrid in the European Cup held in Madrid on 16 September
1997. It is alleged that the club sold tickets to that game only as part of travel packages.

The  Honourable  Member  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  practice  of  the  club,  given  an  earlier  reply  from  the
Commission to his written question P-3480/95, is in contravention of the competition rules of the EC Treaty.