WRITTEN QUESTION P-2066/00 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. Euro 2000 and the sale of black market tickets.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU police cooperation, application of EU law, competition law, exchange of information, illicit trade, sporting event

C 81 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Absorption problems vary in their causes and can be attributed to donors or recipients: excessive red tape,
lack of suitable human resources, external factors (natural disasters) and political or organisational changes
by the recipients.

The Commission has recently approved a paper setting out measures to reform the management of aid to
third countries with a view to improving the performance and efficiency of aid programmes (1). The paper
contains an action plan, complete with a timetable, setting out all the measures to be taken by the
Commission. They include the conversion of the Common Service for External Relations into an Office
and increased recourse to devolved and decentralised management. The question of human resources,
including staff currently provided by technical assistance offices, will be covered in the letter of
amendment
for 2001, which the Commission will be presenting
in September. Further devolution has implications for the budget and will not succeed without the
requisite funding.

to the preliminary draft budget

(1) SEC(2000) 814.

(2001/C 81 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2066/00

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Euro 2000 and the sale of black market tickets

(16 June 2000)

The French judicial authorities are currently investigating the firm of ISL-France, a subsidiary of the
marketing bureau ISL, which is the Euro 2000 foundation(cid:146)s most important partner in organising the
2000 European Cup.

ISL-France is suspected, during the World Cup in 1998 in France, of having sold tickets allocated to it on
the black market. The parent company ISL is alleged to have been aware of these activities.

The problems surrounding ticket sales during the 1998 World Cup led the Commission at the time to
investigate possible breaches of the competition rules by ISL-France.

An active black market in tickets has also been observed in connection with Euro 2000, and seems to have
been thriving in recent weeks in spite of tickets being issued bearing the name of the holder.

1. What measures have been taken in consultation with the Euro 2000 foundation to prevent the sale
of black market tickets for Euro 2000?

2. What lessons were learnt from the 1998 debacle, and what measures have been taken in consultation
with ISL to prevent the sale of black market tickets?

Does it agree that more intensive European cooperation, for example in the exchange of information

3.
in the broad sense, could help combat the trade in black market tickets?

Does it propose to take further European measures seeking to achieve a joint approach to the

4.
problem of the trade in black market tickets?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Ticketing arrangements for Euro 2000 were established by the Union of European football associations
(UEFA) (cid:129) acting through its local organising committee, the Euro 2000 Foundation (cid:129) as organiser of the
tournament. These arrangements were notified to the Commission in March 1999 in order to determine
their compliance or otherwise with European competition rules. The Commission did not enter into
discussions either with the Euro 2000 Foundation or ISL as regards the appropriateness of the specific
measures intended by UEFA to prevent black market ticket sales.

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/137

On 7 June 2000 the Commission informed UEFA by way of comfort letter that its notified sales
arrangements, including those which, for reasons of security, were necessary to prevent the sale of tickets
on the black market, complied with European competition rules. In particular, the Commission welcomed
UEFA(cid:146)s decision to allow European consumers a genuine possibility to obtain tickets for all matches under
fair and non-discriminatory conditions to the extent that was appropriate bearing in mind the need to
offer tickets to supporters of the different participating countries. These arrangements contrasted sharply
with those implemented in the run up to the 1998 World Cup, which discriminated against consumers
resident outside France and in relation to which the Commission took action against the tournament(cid:146)s
local organising committee.

The Commission is of the opinion that stronger European co-operation in information exchange, especially
among police forces, is necessary to combat trade in black market tickets. Such information exchange must
at all time comply with the Community legislation on data protection.

The organisation of Euro 2000 will be evaluated by a Dutch-Belgian project, which is financially supported
by the Union(cid:146)s OISIN programme on police and customs co-operation. The Commission will await the
conclusions of this project before it decides if
further measures at Community level are necessary,
including measures to combat trade in black market tickets.

(2001/C 81 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2070/00

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: Textile and lace fabric in the EU and Turkey

Does the European Union invest significantly in Turkish textiles (cid:129) if so, is this at the expense of the textile
industries in other Member States? Does the EU foresee a further increase in the budget allocated to
investment in the textile industry in Turkey?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

No investment in the Turkish textile industry is financed from the Community budget.

A proposal for a Council regulation regarding the implementation of measures to promote economic and
social development in Turkey (1) is currently being discussed between Council and Parliament. A common
position was adopted by the Council on 14 June 2000. The draft regulation provides, amongst other
things, assistance for the modernisation of Turkish industry.

On specific actions concerning the Turkish textile industry, the Honourable Member is invited to refer to
the answer to Written Question E-1921/00 by Mr Clegg (2).

(1) OJ C 408, 29.12.1998.
(2)

JO C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 149.