WRITTEN QUESTION No. 29/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Sale of tickets for the World Cup
Date: 1998-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: France, competition, exclusive distribution agreement, infringement of EU law, residence, sale, sporting event

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/89

(98/C 223/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0029/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Sale of tickets for the World Cup

Does the Commission not think the French Football Association(cid:146)s decision to restrict 80% of the sale of tickets
for the forthcoming World Cup to French nationals and residents is a contravention of EU competition law?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 1998)

The French world cup organising committee initially envisaged a ticket distribution system based on territorial
exclusivity which would have effectively prevented sales of tickets across borders in the Community. It also
envisaged the tying of ticket sales to other services like accommodation and travel. Following representations by
the Commission, the organising committee agreed to change the arrangements so that both the authorised tour
operators and travel agencies are allowed, firstly, to sell either sole tickets or packages and, secondly, to sell these
across national borders. This ensures competition between several distributors all over the Community.

The  information  available  to  the  Commission  indicates  that  clearly  more  than  20%  of  tickets  will  be  sold  to
residents outside France. As the reservation of tickets is still under way in most European countries, it is not
possible to indicate what percentage of tickets will eventually be sold to French residents or anywhere else within
the Union of European football associations (UEFA) zone, which includes the whole of the European economic
area. In view of allegations made in the press on the violation of European competition law with regard to the sale
of  tickets  for  the  1998  world  cup  football  tournament,  the  Commission  has  adressed  itself  to  the  French
organising committee and the five tour operators selected for the sales of tickets within the UEFA zone. The
answers to these letters should allow the Commission to obtain a more complete picture of the way in which the
French organising committee has allocated tickets.

For the moment no infringements of European competition rules have been established in the context of ticket
distribution for the 1998 world cup football tournament.

(98/C 223/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0032/98

by Mar(cid:14)·a Sornosa Mart(cid:14)·nez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Construction of a secondary electric power station in the green belt area of La Punta (Valencia)

The city council of Valencia has authorized the construction of a secondary electric power station on agricultural
land forming part of the green belt in the district of La Punta, despite the objections submitted by dozens of
community organizations which are totally opposed to the project.

The  authorization  by  the  city  council  has  to  be  supported  by  a  document  from  the  regional  environmental
authorities, which has still not been issued. However, there have been attempts to begin work illegally.

The existence of the agricultural area of La Punta, located to the south of the river Turia, is now under threat. It
has been affected by port developments and polluting industrial activities, by the construction of the El Saler
motorway and new rail lines, by the present project for a secondary electric power station, and by plans for the
further expansion of port services.

Does  the  Commission  believe  that  there  should  be  a  Community  policy  for  regional  planning  aimed  at

1.
preserving the environment from speculative threats?

2. What plans exist in this connection?

To what extent can the Commission intervene to prevent the gradual destruction of the environment by

3.
speculative developments, as in the case of La Punta?