WRITTEN QUESTION E-2592/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Basketball.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competition law, professional sport, restriction on competition, sports body

13.11.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/1

I

(Information)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

(2001/C 318 E/001)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2592/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Basketball

A group of professional basketball clubs belonging to the European Union of Basketball Leagues (UEBL)
the Federation, after the
recently set up the European League, a league outside the structures of
International Basketball Federation (FIBA) repeatedly refused to negotiate with the clubs. They had called
for the review of a number of aspects linked to the existing competition (which is to be called Suproleague
in the coming year), such as the competition system and the distribution of television and photo rights.

When it was announced that this new European Basketball League was to be set up under the auspices of
the UEBL, FIBA threatened to suspend any referees officiating at games in the competition, and has even
threatened to penalise those French clubs which had expressed an interest in taking part in the new league,
with the result that no French teams are represented in that league.

What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of these threats and coercion against teams and referees on the part of
FIBA, a body which is made up of national basketball federations, including those of the 15 Member
States, which have a duty to respect free enterprise and which, moreover, subsidise the federations
concerned from their budgets?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

The Commission has always respected the freedom of sporting organisations to organise their sport. This is
because most of the rules issued by these organisations are not based on economic grounds but concern
the specific nature and objectives of the sport concerned. It is quite a different matter when a sporting
organisation takes a decision on economic grounds. In this case, as the Court of Justice has pointed out on
several occasions since 1974, the sporting rules come under Community law, and the Commission, as
guardian of the EC Treaty, must ensure that these rules are complied with.

The Commission (1) has already informed the European sporting federations that even if the tradition of
sport is for only one federation to manage a given sport (cid:129) a form of organisation that is fully compatible
with the EC Treaty (cid:129) there is nothing to rule out other ways of organising sport. In the Helsinki report on
sport, the Commission stated its attachment to the traditional organisation of sport and its values.
However, the Commission would be unable to oppose changes, since it has neither the will nor the legal
means to impose a single vision of sport.

The Commission has not yet received any formal complaints on this subject. As a result, it is unable at this
stage to make a statement on the attitudes denounced by the Honourable Member. If a complaint were to

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be submitted, the Commission would examine it, as it has already done in the past, taking account of both
the competition rules and the specific nature of the sporting activity.

(1) Speech given by Mr Mario Monti on the occasion of the meeting between the European Commission and the

European sporting federations in Brussels on 17 April 2000.

(2001/C 318 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3248/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Guidelines for state environmental aids and the existing energy premium system

Renewable energy sources are undergoing a significant development in the Spanish state. In particular,
wind energy is no longer marginal, having achieved a total installation volume of 1500 megawatts by the
end of 1999, thus accounting for 2 % of current electricity production.

This development is based on the Spanish law governing the electricity sector, the plan for the promotion
of renewable energy sources, and a number of mechanisms which ensure preferential access to the
electricity grid for renewables and the preservation of premiums for this type of energy production.

According to the experts,
the incentive system needs to be continued if the objective of doubling
renewable energy production is to be achieved, thus complying with the Kyoto targets. The proposal for
a European Parliament and Council directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy
sources in the internal electricity market (1) favours continuing the existing support arrangements.

However, it appears that no system of incentives will be provided for under the Community guidelines for
state environmental aids which are being prepared by the Commission. In the case of Spain, this would
put a considerable brake on the development of renewable energy sources.

Does the Commission not believe that a suitable system of incentives should be maintained with a view to
the development of renewable energies?

Does the Commission consider that the new guidelines for state environmental aids should ensure the
continuation, under current conditions, of the renewable energy premiums system?

(1) COM(2000) 279.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2001)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the need to create conditions conducive to the
development of renewable energy sources. That is why the new guidelines on state aid for environmental
protection, adopted by the Commission on 21 December 2000 (1), allow aid to be granted on the
following terms:

Investment aid is allowed at the basic rate of 40 % of eligible costs. A further 10 percentage points
may be added to the basic rate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where the investment
provides an entire community such as an island with energy, or for firms located in regions eligible
for regional aid.

Member States also have the folliwing options for granting operating aid:

(cid:129) Aid may be granted to cover the difference between the costs of producing renewable energy and the
market price of that energy. Such aid is not limited over time but must cease once the investment has
been written off. Where necessary, the amount of the investment may also take account of financial
costs and a fair return on capital.