WRITTEN QUESTION P-2127/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Upholding the law of competition in the canvassing for sponsors for EURO 2000.
Date: 1999-11-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: marketing, monopoly, restriction on competition, sponsorship, sporting event, sports body

C 225 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

(2000/C 225 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2127/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 November 1999)

Subject: Upholding the law of competition in the canvassing for sponsors for EURO 2000

ISL Worldwide has obtained from UEFA almost exclusive rights for promotion and advertising in
connection with the EURO 2000 football championships. The marketing firm is making the organisation
of an activity in the host cities dependent on financial support for an official sponsor (i.e. one recognised
by ISL Worldwide). The host cities are not, however, permitted to make contact on their own initiative
with the official sponsors for their activities. ISL Worldwide has nonetheless admitted that these rights
have been granted to the official sponsors.

ISL Worldwide(cid:146)s de facto monopoly is inconsistent with European competition law. The firm maintains
that the rights relating to the host cities are held by the official sponsors, but forbids the host cities to
negotiate directly with them.

1.
Is ISL Worldwide(cid:146)s (cid:145)advertising and promotion contract(cid:146) consistent with European competition law,
given the de facto monopoly on all promotion and advertising activities connected with the EURO 2000
football championships?

2. What steps will the Commission take to ensure that contracts governing promotion and advertising
activities connected with the EURO 2000 football championships are consistent with European competi-
tion law?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1999)

The European Football Championship in 2000 is being organised by the EURO 2000 Foundation under
the auspices of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). For the marketing of the event
arrangements are made with ISL Worldwide, a leading media and marketing company for large-scale
popular sports events with extensive international media exposure. It is also agreed by UEFA, the EURO
2000 Foundation, ISL Worldwide and the eight host cities that all negotiations will take place on an
individual basis to cater for the individual needs of each city involved (1).

The agreements mentioned above concerning the marketing of the UEFA European Football Championship
in 2000 have not been notified to the Commission, in contrast to the UEFA ticketing arrangements for this
event. Until now, no formal complaint has been lodged against these promotion and publicity contracts
for EURO 2000, nor against similar contracts in the past. Therefore, it is at present not possible for the
Commission to assess whether the contract referred to is in accordance with the European competition
rules.

However, the Commission, also taking into account the problems that arose in the framework of the
organisation of the football World Cup finals in France in 1998 (2),
intends to monitor closely the
organisation of the EURO 2000 event. Currently, the Commission is examining proposals relating to the
sale of match tickets for EURO 2000. The Commission will also gather factual information concerning the
marketing contracts of the EURO 2000 event, and will then see whether it will launch an investigation
into these marketing contracts.

(1)

This is the result of a meeting of 7 October 1999 concerning the marketing rights for the organisation of
EURO 2000.

(2) On 20 July 1999, the Commission adopted a formal legal decision (C(99)2295/2) against the local organisers of
last year(cid:146)s football World Cup finals tournament in France (ComitØ Fran(cid:231)ais d(cid:146)Organisation de la Coupe du Monde
de Football 1998, or (cid:145)CFO(cid:146)), following the implementation of discriminatory sales arrangements in relation to entry
tickets for finals matches.