WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2790/98 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. European-wide leagues
Date: 1998-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: competition law, professional sport, sporting event, sports body

C 135/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(28 September 1998)

The use of budget appropriations for those headings still without a legal basis is subject to the stringent
provisions of the Financial Regulation that governs the budget as a whole. The projects cited by the
Honourable Member are a case in point. The Commission is therefore unable to accept the contention that
it felt ‘free to ignore a number of rules’.

The budget heading funds projects submitted by partners: non-governmental organisations, associations
or international organisations. After examination and appraisal, projects satisfying the criteria laid down
for the heading’s use are the subject of a formal decision by the Commission under the financial rules in
force.

The Commission would also point out, as emphasised in its answer to Question 2187/98, that the two
projects cited by name formed part of a coherent programme of support for the electoral process. The
programme was set up at the request of the national authorising officer, in accordance with Parliament’s
resolution of November last year on Togo and on the basis of requests from a number of partners.

The Commission believes that the activities it financed contributed to the success of the elections. It also
believes that the partners who carried them out worked with efficiency and without bias.

(1999/C 135/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2790/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Subject: European-wide leagues

What does the Commission intend to do to encourage the formation of European-wide leagues in various
sports?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1998)

Most major sports federations have long been organising European competitions. Football, for instance,
has the champions league and basketball the European league. If the Honourable Member’s question is
about the creation of European leagues outside the federations, the Commission is not planning any
particular action to encourage such moves. This is a matter for the sports organisations. The Commission
has neither a legal basis nor the political interest to interfere. Nevertheless, the Commission stresses the
importance of keeping real solidarity between elite and grass roots sport. Furthermore, where the rules or
actions of existing or new sports organisations fall within the scope of the competition rules of the EC
Treaty, the Commission has the duty to ensure that these rules are respected.

(1999/C 135/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2795/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Subject: Financing of the UCK

Despite all their verbal pledges, Albanian politicians in Kosovo have so far displayed little genuine
readiness to enter into a dialogue with the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities and seek a peaceful solution to
the conflict. A serious obstacle here is the attitude of the UCK (the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army),