WRITTEN QUESTION E-0403/01 by Toine Manders (ELDR), Ward Beysen (ELDR), Graham Watson (ELDR), Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) and Ole Andreasen (ELDR) to the Commission. Complaint about abuse of UEFA's position.
Date: 2001-02-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competition law, dominant position, infringement of EU law, sports body

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/21

(2001/C 340 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0394/01

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) and Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: ETA terrorist operations

(20 February 2001)

According to information from the reputable Spanish newspaper El Pais, police sources and the public, the
terrorist organisation ETA has extorted substantial sums of money from small businessmen and small
businesses in the Basque country by sending them letters threatening their lives. Recently, a death-threat
against the famous French footballer, Lizarazu, was also given wide publicity. Furthermore, the newspaper
Diario 16 revealed that many Basque footballers have received similar threats from ETA and pay extortion
money to avoid assassination by that organisation. Apparently, the extortion money paid by the terror
victims to avoid assassination is used to finance ETA(cid:146)s deadly terrorist operations and to enable the
terrorists to live in comfort without having to work.

Does the Council not think that, instead of confining itself to condemning violence and expressing its
sorrow for the victims every time that ETA commits an assassination (which the European Parliament also
does, of course), it would be more effective to point out that the terrorists concerned (cid:129) claiming that they
seek the independence of the Basque country (cid:129) are also fighting for their own personal wealth? Would
not such an accusation severely undermine their
their alleged
revolutionary selflessness and their patriotic aspirations?

standing since it would discredit

In the light of these facts, will the Council draw up an integrated policy to combat terrorism?

Reply

(16 July 2001)

The Council is working towards an integrated approach against the scourge of terrorism. Every six months
a paper on the threat that it poses is drawn up and exchanges of views on recent incidents take place
regularly.

One of the objectives of European security and defence policy is to combat terrorism. More specifically,
the Council Recommendation of 9 December 1999 provides for cooperation between Member States(cid:146)
authorities in financing the fight against terrorism.

(2001/C 340 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0403/01

by Toine Manders (ELDR), Ward Beysen (ELDR), Graham Watson (ELDR),
Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) and Ole Andreasen (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Complaint about abuse of UEFA(cid:146)s position

(15 February 2001)

We have recently heard that UEFA has banned a new initiative, the Euro League, from the football market.
If the Euro League does start up, both the clubs and their players taking part will be banned from taking
part in other events organised by UEFA and the players will be barred from appearing for their national
teams.

Football clubs(cid:146) income is no longer determined by the number of spectators but by media revenue which is
what is used to pay players(cid:146) salaries. The small EU countries are at a disproportionate disadvantage in this
respect and consequently they are no longer able to compete with the large countries. To meet this
challenge a number of small countries (Belgium, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden,
the Netherlands and
Denmark) have proposed having a competition (the Euro League) between their best clubs. Bringing these
countries together opens up the field and makes the matches more attractive to the media and to sponsors,
and will enable small countries to compete once again with the major football countries such as Spain,
France, Germany, England and Italy. Since the Commission agrees with us that professional football is an

C 340 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

economic activity, clubs must have the opportunity of developing their economic strategies within the
internal market. A ban by UEFA, which occupies a monopoly position in this respect,
is, we feel, in
violation of European rules.

We are increasingly aware of UEFA abusing its monopoly position in other areas, too. One example is the
transfer system which the Commission is looking into.

If Opel and Volkswagen can be compelled by the Commission to change the way they treat their dealers,
UEFA should change the way it treats the clubs.

Does the Commission agree that in the case described above UEFA is abusing its position of power

1.
and hence is in contravention of European rules?

If so, is it prepared to look into the ban on the Euro League and to take what action is necessary so
2.
that competition (cid:129) a priority objective of the European Union (cid:129) can take place under conditions of
fairness, not least for football clubs from small countries?

Can the Commission look into whether UEFA has abused its monopoly position in other areas, too,

3.
and is it prepared to take whatever action is necessary?

4.
Further evidence can be provided on request. If the answer to question 5 is in the negative, what
opportunities are there, in the Commission(cid:146)s opinion, for clubs from small countries competing within the
internal market if they are obliged to operate exclusively within their own Member States?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2001)

The Commission has learned through the press about the plan to set up a new European championship,
involving the best clubs from the Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish and
the Euro League,
Scottish championships.

The Commission has as yet received no application for approval or exemption from the initiators of the
project or the clubs in question, nor any complaint related to the project or its rejection by the Union of
European Football Associations (UEFA). Were it to receive an application or complaint, the Commission
would examine any competition problems and,
this new
championship to the consumer. The examination would also take account of the specific features of
sport, as set out in the Helsinki report on sport (1) and the Nice Declaration on (cid:145)the specific characteristics
of sport and its social function in Europe(cid:146) (2).

the possible benefits of

in particular,

(1) 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 (cid:129)
COM(1999) 644 final.

(2) Conclusions of the Presidency (cid:129) Nice European Council (cid:129) 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 (cid:129) Annex IV (cid:129) Declaration
on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which account should be taken in
implementing common policies.

(2001/C 340 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0411/01

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Subject: Tax discrimination against leasing of staff from elsewhere in the Community

Liability for municipal tax payable to local authorities in Austria, including that payable by staff leasing
agencies, has hitherto always been calculated on the total wage bill. As of 1 January 2001, in accordance
with Article 20 of the law applicable to implementation of the 2001 budget (BGBl I, 142/2000), the
undertaking for which staff have been recruited by a staff leasing agency is liable for local authority tax at