WRITTEN QUESTION P-1044/02 by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Sporting licences.
Date: 2002-04-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: self-regulation, sport, sporting event, sports body

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/249

(2002/C 205 E/276)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1044/02

by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 April 2002)

Subject: Sporting licences

In December 2001, in Münster (Germany), the European Volleyball Confederation Cup was won by the
Spanish club Caja de Ávila CSC. Nonetheless, this club was disqualified because the collective sporting
licence which it presented was one issued by the Royal Spanish Volleyball Federation (which had earlier
confirmed that the documentation was in order), rather than by the European Volleyball Confederation.
The latter organisation claimed that
the Spanish licence was invalid. The Royal Spanish Volleyball
Federation is responsible for overseeing and monitoring volleyball clubs, and represents the European
Volleyball Confederation in Spain. All documentation concerning Spanish clubs participating in European
competitions has to pass through the Federation.

Given that citizens’ rights in the European Union must apply without limitation or curtailment in all the
Member States, can the Commission explain on what grounds a licence issued by a federation in one
Member State can be refused recognition and treated as invalid in another?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

(10/11 December 1999), and the Council of the European Union,

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that both the Commission, in its report on sport
at the Helsinki Council (1)
in its
declaration attached to the conclusions of the Nice Council (7-10 December 2000) (2),
indicated their
support for the independence of sports organisations and their right to organise themselves. It is therefore
the task of sporting organisations to organise and promote their particular sports by, for example,
organising international competitions. This must of course be done with due regard for national and
Community legislation.

The application of formalities for registration and participation in an international tournament is clearly
governed by rules specific to the sport and by the need for federations to independently organise
competitions in their sport, provided these formalities do not contravene Community law, particularly on
non-discrimination. However, they are not themselves an unacceptable restriction to the freedom of
movement of persons. On the contrary, such formalities are necessary in order to properly organise an
international competition. The information which the Commission has received does not therefore at this
stage indicate an infringement of Community law. The Commission could reach a conclusion on this
matter only following a full examination on the basis of much more precise information. In any case,
should the club in question feel that the disputed decision has violated a right arising from Community
law, it would be up to it to seek redress before the competent national courts.

(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. COM(1999) 644 final.

(2) Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which account should be

taken in implementing common policies http://www.europarl.eu.int/summits/nice2_en.htm#an4.

(2002/C 205 E/277)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1063/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Seats of the EU Institutions

Every EU Treaty makes specific reference to the seats of the European Institutions. A debate is held on that
subject at every Intergovernmental Conference which precedes a new Treaty and the ensuing decisions are
incorporated in the text of the Treaty. The Conference which began in Brussels on 28 February 2002 is to
pave the way for a revision of the modus operandi of the Union’s institutions and for enlargement.