WRITTEN QUESTION E-3006/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Football.
Date: 2000-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competition law, professional sport, sports body

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/155

in
The Commission provides extensive support to strengthen health systems,
developing countries. This preference for a system-oriented approach has been a deliberate Community
policy. As a consequence, a detailed disease specific Community development budget breakdown for TB is
not available. Community commitments to health, AIDS and population in 1998 amounted to well over
€ 700 million for more than 100 developing countries.

including TB control,

Specific collaborative research activities with developing countries particularly geared to the development
and testing of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines are administered under the regular Community research
budget. For the period 1994-1998, approximately € 3,5 million were spent for TB research.

Finally, on 20 September 2000 the Commission adopted a communication (3) to the Council and the
Parliament on a proposed accelerated action targeted at major communicable diseases (TB, malaria and
HIV/AIDS) within the context of poverty reduction. The new Community initiative offers the potential for
innovative cohesive strategies for combating the disease. A high-level round table discussion on this new
initiative was organised by the Commission together with WHO and the United Nations programme on
AIDS (Unaids) in Brussels on 28 September 2000. An action plan will now be prepared to implement
these strategies. The Commission will further enhance the availability and access to anti-tuberculosis drugs
in developing countries in order to improve the compliance to the treatment, in line with the DOTS
methodology.

(1) Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998).
(2) Decision No 647/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 March 1996 (OJ L 95, 16.4.1996).
(3) COM(2000) 585 final.

(2001/C 136 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3006/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Football

In view of the current interest in (cid:145)exempting(cid:146) football from some of the provisions of the Union Treaties,
would the Commission care to offer a definition of the game, one which might exclude rugby football and
American football from being able to introduce a (cid:145)transfer system(cid:146)?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2000)

Sport is subject to Community law in so far as it constitutes an economic activity within the meaning of
Article 2 of the EC Treaty. The Court of Justice has pointed this out on several occasions since 1974 (1).
Sport therefore does not benefit from any general exemptions from the rules of the EC Treaty.

However, the Commission recognises that sport has certain specific characteristics, as it pointed out in the
Helsinki report (2). This means that the rules of the game and, in a general sense, the purely sporting rules
do not come under competition law. In the Helsinki Report, the Commission gave some indications of
what is covered by the laws of the game.

As far as the transfer system is concerned, the Commission would point out that, following the receipt of
complaints, proceedings are under way concerning FIFA(cid:146)s transfer system. It should be stressed that the
Commission(cid:146)s objective is not to abolish the system completely, but rather to make it compatible with
Community law, which means making certain changes.

C 136 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

In this context, football is not being given any special treatment, and the principles applied to it are also
valid for all other sports. Consequently, any international sporting organisation may introduce rules
concerning its sport, provided that they are in keeping with Community law. A transfer system is therefore
not,
incompatible with the rules of the Treaty. However, there is a need to examine the
implementation arrangements on a case-by-case basis.

in itself,

(1)

Judgment of 12 December 1974, Walrave and Koch (Case 36-74, ECR p. 1 405) and Judgment of 14 July 1976,
Gaetano Dona (Case 13-76, ECR p. 1 333).

(2) Report from the Commission to the European Council with a view to safeguarding current sports structures and
maintaining the social function of sport within the Community framework (cid:129) The Helsinki Report on Sport
(COM(1999) 644 final).

(2001/C 136 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3008/00

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Electromagnetic fields and telecommunications equipment

With reference to Written Question P-1472/99 (1) referring to possible harmful effects on public health
from electromagnetic fields, has any new research carried out in the intervening period led the Commis-
sion to consider proposing any new measures in order to protect the public from these electromagnetic
fields?

(1) OJ C 27 E, 29.1.2000, p. 84.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2000)

In the absence of new scientific evidence accepted by the Commission(cid:146)s Scientific Steering Committee, the
text of Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the
general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) (1) makes provision for its revision and
updating within five years of its adoption, taking account of current research under the 5th framework
programme.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(2001/C 136 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3009/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Building projects and aquaculture at Bosa and Villanova Monteleone in Sardinia

In the municipality of Bosa (NU) and the villages of S(cid:146)Abba Druche and Torre Argentina private projects
connected with tourism (carparks, services, etc.) and other building projects are planned. In the stretch of
sea offshore from the villages of Managu and Cano Marrargiu in the same municipality an intensive fish-
farming plant covering 30 hectares is being set up. Furthermore, another building project for tourist
facilities covering approximately 300 000 cubic metres affecting the coastal resort of Poglina in the
commune of Villanova Monteleone (SS) is about to be submitted. All these projects affect the coastline
between Bosa and Alghero, one of the few unspoilt and wild stretches of Mediterranean coastline, a nesting
site for the Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), protected under Directives 79/409/EEC (1) on wild birds and 92/
43/EEC (2) on habitats. The whole stretch of coast in included in the site of Community importance
(cid:145)hinterland and coastline between Bosa, Capo Marrargiu and Porto Tangone(cid:146) (code number ITB000041) in