WRITTEN QUESTION P-2548/99 by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Monopoly purchasing practices in Olympic sailing classes.
Date: 1999-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Olympic games, monopoly, professional sport, sports body

C 219 E/180

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

The ERDF(cid:146)s total contribution to Interreg for the period 2000-2006 is set at € 4 875 million. The
maximum contribution is set at 75 % of the total cost of projects and programmes in Objective 1 regions
and at 50 % elsewhere. In addition, Member States will have to ensure that between 50 and 80 % of their
total Interreg budget is allocated to transfrontier cooperation.

With regard to logistical and financial support for frontier areas, the Council would draw the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s attention to the measures taken in the context of the structural funds, and more particularly in
the context of the Community (cid:145)Interreg(cid:146) initiative relating to the development of frontier areas. When
internal frontiers were abolished, very considerable use was made of the financial possibilities offered by
this structural policy instrument.

(2000/C 219 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2548/99

by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Monopoly purchasing practices in Olympic sailing classes

Monopoly practices are emerging in the sport of sailing. with the consent of the International Sailing
Federation (ISAF), relating to purchasing practices in a number of Olympic classes.

The problems arise from the fact that practitioners of sailing with Olympic aspirations are obliged to
purchase from certain shipyards designated by ISAF; the organisation justifies this on grounds of ensuring
quality and uniform standards.

It appears clear that significant interantional pressure exists for these monopoly practices to be blocked
and ended, since they give rise to various problems, including the following:

(cid:129) the brands chosen do not have to promote themselves;

(cid:129) sportsmen and women are deprived of opportunities as regards promotion, sponsorship, etc, since all

are obliged to use the same equipment;

(cid:129) prices are unduly high thanks to the absence of competition;

(cid:129) technical development is lagging behind because the rules of the market do not operate.

Can Commissioner Monti state, given that this is a problem at world level that has effects in Europe, what
action the Commission can take to put an end to this monopoly on supplies and enable individual
practitioners of sailing to obtain their supplies where they see fit, provided the rules applying are observed,
thus ceasing to damage the vessel construction industry?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for drawing to its attention the requirements covering
purchase of sailing equipment for the Olympics.

A number of sporting competitions are governed by strict requirements covering the equipment which
may be employed. These requirements may be dictated in the interests of safety, or in order to ensure that
differences in equipment do not have undue influence on the outcome of competitions. Sporting
authorities may accordingly impose such requirements without infringing competition law.

It is suggested in this case that participants are obliged to obtain their equipment from a single supplier. It
is not clear how this obligation is imposed in practice.

The information at the Commission(cid:146)s disposal is accordingly not now sufficient for it to intervene in the
instance to which the Honourable Member refers. However, were a duly-substantiated complaint to be
made, this would naturally be examined in accordance with the prescribed procedures.