WRITTEN QUESTION E-2501/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Recognition of the specific characteristics of sport in the Treaties.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: revision of the Treaty (EU), sport

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/203

The Commission is taking a number of measures to accelerate the integration of markets. For example, a
preliminary system of cross border transmission tarification will enter into force by October 2000, and
discussions are now advanced on adopting compatible approaches throughout
the Community to
congestion management mechanisms. Finally, at the end of this year the Commission intends to adopt a
report on the measures that are necessary to meet the demand of the Lisbon European Council to
accelerate the completion of the internal gas and electricity market. The communication will address the
issue of interconnection capacity, and the measures that need to be taken at Community and national level
to solve bottlenecks in the system, for example the interconnection between Italy and Switzerland.

These issues are the most important in creating the internal market for gas and electricity, which is
essential if consumers across the Community are to benefit from the internal market in terms of the prices
that they pay.

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.
(2) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(2001/C 89 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2501/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Recognition of the specific characteristics of sport in the Treaties

The special nature of sport and its due recognition in the protocol annexed to the Treaties has recently
been put back on the agenda.

The conclusions of the recent Feira Summit, the last under the Portuguese Presidency, state: (cid:145)the European
Council requests the Commission and the Council to take account of the specific characteristics of sport in
Europe and its social function in managing common policies(cid:146).

Jacques Delors also addressed this subject in a recent interview (1):
(cid:145)(cid:133) taking a decision on the free
movement of footballers by analogy with the free movement of workers is a step which will have far-
reaching consequences for the future of sport at educational and grass-roots level. ((cid:133)) I have drawn
Jacques Chirac(cid:146)s and Lionel Jospin(cid:146)s attention to the need to draw up a protocol on the special status of
sport in Europe (cid:129) in the same way as there is a special status for culture (cid:129) so as to give sport a moral
dimension, stressing the educational aspect. ((cid:133)) It would also be sensible to require every professional club
competing in championships in the Member States of the European Union to use at least six players of the
nationality of the country concerned. ((cid:133)) It is its (the French Presidency(cid:146)s) responsibility to incorporate the
protocol which I am advocating in the future Treaty of Nice in December 2000(cid:146).

When presenting the chief components of the programme of the French Presidency to the European
Parliament (Strasbourg, 4 July 2000), President Jacques Chirac also gave an assurance that (cid:145)we must ensure
that the European Union takes greater account of the special nature of sport and its social function. This is
a real problem which needs to be studied and resolved. The French Presidency will endeavour to do so(cid:146).

Has the Commission paid due attention to the above conclusion of the Feira Summit and to the objective
in question, which was emphatically reaffirmed by the French Presidency? What action is the Commission
taking with a view to the forthcoming adoption of a protocol annexed to the Treaties in which due
recognition will be given to the special characteristics of sport and which will provide an adequate and
balanced response to the various problems which have been debated in detail and at length, bearing in
mind the social, public and educational value of sport, including professional sport?

(1)

(cid:145)Le Figaro(cid:146), 4 July 2000, first section, p. 13.

C 89 E/204

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2000)

The delegations representing the Governments of the Member States and the Commission, which have
scrupulously respected the remit of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), have not so far put forward
any formal proposals at the IGC on the inclusion of sport in the EC Treaty.

It was the European Council which set the IGC(cid:146)s ambitious but very focused remit:
institutional issues left open in Amsterdam that need to be settled before enlargement(cid:146).

(cid:145)to resolve the

The positions adopted by the Commission at the IGC take account of this framework. The Commission
has chosen not to propose any extension of powers at this Conference.

(2001/C 89 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2532/00

by Wolfgang Kreissl-D(cid:246)rfler (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: EU funding for water project (Rio Sao Francisco, Brazil)

(25 July 2000)

The Brazilian Government has announced a plan to divert part of the Rio Sao Francisco and channel water
into the states of Pernambuco, Paraiba, CearÆ and Rio Grande do Norte in order to overcome the water
shortage in those regions. This project is highly controversial in terms of both its technical feasibility and
its contribution to sustainable development for the good of the people in the region. According to
government figures, the cost of engineering and construction work alone will amount to 3,5 billion real.

Can the Commission say whether EU funding has been requested and/or has already been granted for this
project? If so, can the Commission justify its assessment of the project(cid:146)s sustainability? If a financial
contribution was refused, can the Commission say on what grounds?

Can the Commission provide more detailed answers to the following questions, should the diversion of the
water be feasible:

(cid:129) how high a price would the end-user pay?

(cid:129) how would the costs be divided between government, farmers and private households?

(cid:129) how would the environmental aspects of the project be resolved in view of the ecologically precarious

state of the river?

(cid:129) is there a detailed plan for the sustainable development of

the Sao Francisco valley and the

surrounding areas which takes due account of the needs of the people in the region?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Brazilian government and the Commission have never discussed such a plan. The Commission has not
received any project of this kind to date.

As a result it is not in a position to answer the Honourable Member(cid:146)s specific questions.