Common Position (EC) No 59/2002 of 14 October 2002 adopted by the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, with a view to adopting a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European year of education through sport 2004
Date: 2002-10-14
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU action, European symbol, cooperation policy, physical education, promotion of the European idea, social integration, social role, sport

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COMMON POSITION (EC) No 59/2002

adopted by the Council on 14 October 2002

with a view to adopting Decision No . . ./2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of . . . establishing the European year of education through sport 2004

(2002/C 275 E/05)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 149 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Having regard to the Opinion of
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (4),

Whereas:

(1) Promoting good quality education is one of the objectives

of the European Community.

(2) The educational values of sport were acknowledged by the
Nice European Council of 7, 8 and 9 December 2000,
thus
particularly
Declaration 29 attached to the Amsterdam Treaty in
which sport is defined as something which forges the
identity of people.

declarations,

confirming

previous

(3) The Nice European Council called upon the Community
institutions to take due account of the educational values
the
of sport
Treaty, stressing in particular that
for
Member States, with the support of the Community, to
encourage voluntary activity.

in its action under various provisions of
is important

it

(4) The Resolution of the Council and of the Ministers for
Youth meeting within the Council of 17 December 1999
sporting
on the non-formal education dimension of
youth
Community
in
activities
programmes (5)
can
sporting activities
have
to
contributes
a
strengthening civil society and calls upon the Commission

the
considers

value which

pedagogical

European

that

(1) OJ C 25 E, 29.1.2002, p. 531.
(2) Opinion delivered on 24 April 2002 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(3) Opinion delivered on 15 May 2002 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 14 May 2002 (not yet
published in the Official
Journal), Council Common Position of
14 October 2002 and Decision of the European Parliament of . . .
(not yet published in the Official Journal).

(5) OJ C 8, 12.1.2000, p. 5.

to devise,
coherent approach in order to exploit
potential of sport.

in cooperation with the Member States, a
the educational

(5) In its Resolution on the Commission report on safe-
guarding current sports structures and maintaining the
social
the European Parliament
underlined the educational and social value of sport, as
well as its role in combating racism and xenophobia.

function of

sport (6),

(6) In its Resolution of 13 June 1997 on the role of the
European Union in the field of sport (7), the European
the organisation of a European
Parliament called for
Year of Sport.

(7) The Committee of the Regions noted in its Opinion on the
Commission's consultation paper ‘The European model of
sport’ how important sport is in shaping the individual.

(8) In its report on sport made to the European Council in
Helsinki, the Commission examined the merits of using
sport in education and youth-related matters given the
values conveyed by sport.

(9) Regular exercise improves psychological and physical
health and can make a positive contribution to the
learning process.

(10) The education of young sportsmen and sportswomen
their participation in

should not suffer as a result of
competitive sport.

(11) Education through sport should promote personal identity

and development for girls and boys.

(12) Educational and training institutions at all

levels should
make fuller use of the opportunities offered by sport for
transnational mobility and cultural exchanges.

(13) The Olympic and other sporting events in 2004 will
heighten media coverage and public awareness of sport.
This is an ideal opportunity to underline the educational
value of sport.

(6) OJ C 135, 7.5.2001, p. 274.
(7) OJ C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 252.

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(14) Action in Member States is the main way in which public
awareness of the educational value of sport can be raised.
However, the Community can support and reinforce such
action through the establishment of a European Year of
Education through Sport.

(15) A European Year of Education through Sport will
complement and reinforce existing Community action to
promote education and training, as well as the social
inclusion of disadvantaged persons.

(16) The European Year of Education through Sport should be
opened up for participation by the EFTA/EEA countries in
accordance with the conditions established under
the
European Economic Area Agreement (EEA), and by the
associated central and eastern European countries in line
with the conditions laid down pursuant to their respective
Europe Agreements. For Cyprus, this participation should
be funded by additional appropriations in accordance with
arrangements to be agreed upon, and for Malta and
Turkey by additional appropriations in accordance with
the EC Treaty.

(17) This Decision lays down for the entire duration of the
programme a financial framework constituting the prime
reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Inter-
institutional Agreement between the European Parliament,
the Council and the Commission of 6 May 1999 on
budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary
procedure (1).

(18) Since the objectives of the proposed action cannot be
sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can
therefore, by reason of
their scale, especially for the
need for multilateral partnerships, transnational exchange
of
information and Community-wide dissemination of
good practices, be better achieved at Community level,
the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with
the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the
Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality,
as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond
what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(19) The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
procedures
implementing powers
the exercise of
conferred on the Commission (2),

for

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The European Year of Education through Sport

The year 2004 shall be designated ‘European Year of Education
through Sport’.

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

Article 2

Aims

The aims of the European Year of Education through Sport
shall be as follows:

(a) to make educational

institutions and sports organisations
aware of the need for cooperation in order to develop
education through sport and its European dimension,
given the very great interest that young people take in all
kinds of sport;

(b) to take advantage of the values conveyed through sport to
develop knowledge and skills whereby young people in
particular
and
readiness for personal effort and also social abilities such
as teamwork, solidarity, tolerance and fair play in a multi-
cultural framework;

can develop their physical prowess

(c)

to promote awareness of the positive contribution that
education,
activities make
voluntary
especially of young people;

to non-formal

(d) to promote the educational value of pupil mobility and
exchanges particularly in a multicultural environment
through the organisation of sporting and cultural contacts
as part of school activity;

(e)

to encourage the exchange of good practice concerning the
role sport can play in education systems to promote the
social inclusion of disadvantaged groups,

(f)

to create a better balance between intellectual and physical
activity in school
in school
activities;

life by encouraging sport

(g) to consider the problems relating to the education of young
in competitive

sportsmen and sportswomen taking part
sports.

Article 3

Content of the measures

The measures taken to attain the objectives set out in
1.
the following
include the organisation of
Article 2 shall
activities in 2004 or the granting of support for such activities:

(a) meetings, European educational competitions and events
highlighting achievements and experiences on the theme
of the European Year of Education through Sport;

(b) voluntary actions at European level during Olympic and

other sporting events in 2004;

(c)

information and promotional campaigns,
including coop-
eration with the media to disseminate the educational
values of sport;

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(d) events promoting the educational value of

sport and

providing examples of good practice;

(e)

financial support for transnational, national, regional or
the
local
European Year of Education through Sport.

the objectives of

to promote

initiatives

A detailed description of

2.
paragraph 1 is set out in the Annex hereto.

the measures referred to in

Article 4

Implementation and cooperation with the Member States

1.
The Commission shall be responsible for ensuring that
Community measures adopted pursuant to this Decision are
implemented in accordance with the procedure provided for
in Article 5(2) and in full compliance with the principle of
subsidiarity.

Each Member State shall designate one or more appro-
2.
priate bodies
to be responsible for participation in the
European Year of Education through Sport and for coor-
dination and implementation at the appropriate level of the
measures provided for in this Decision, inter alia by assisting
with the selection procedure referred to in Article 7.

Article 5

Committee

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 6

Financial arrangements

1. Measures which are Community-wide in nature, as
described in Part A of the Annex, may be subsidised from
the European Union up to a
the General Budget of
maximum of 80 % of the total cost.

local,
2. Measures of Community interest which are
regional, national or transnational
in nature, as described in
Part B of the Annex, may be co-financed from the General
Budget of the European Union up to a maximum of 50 % of
the total cost.

Article 7

Application and selection procedure

Decisions on co-financing of measures under Article 6
2.
shall be taken by the Commission in accordance with the
procedure provided for in Article 5(2). The Commission shall
ensure a balanced distribution among Member States and
among the different fields of activity involved.

The Commission,

3.
in particular through its national or
regional contact points, shall, in conjunction with the bodies
referred to in Article 4(2), ensure that the calls for proposals
are published in good time and distributed as widely as
possible.

Article 8

Consistency and complementarity

1.
The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,
shall ensure that the measures provided for in this Decision are
consistent with other Community actions and initiatives.

2.
The Commission shall ensure that the European Year of
Education through Sport complements as far as possible other
existing Community, national and regional
initiatives and
resources, where these can contribute to fulfilling the objectives
of the European Year of Education through Sport.

Article 9

Participation by certain third countries

The European Year of Education through Sport shall be open
to participation by:

(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions

established under the EEA Agreement;

(b) the associated central and eastern European countries in
to
accordance with the conditions established pursuant
their respective Europe Agreements;

(c) Cyprus, whose participation shall be funded by additional
appropriations in accordance with procedures to be agreed
with that country;

(d) Malta and Turkey, whose participation shall be funded by
additional appropriations in accordance with the provisions
of the Treaty.

Article 10

Budget

The financial framework for the implementation of this

1.
Decision is hereby set at EUR 11,5 million.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
financial

authority within the

limits of

the

2.
budgetary
perspective.

Applications

for co-financing of measures

1.
from the
Community budget under Article 6(2) shall be submitted to
the Commission by the body or bodies referred to in Article
4(2). Applications shall include information making it possible
to assess
criteria. The
Commission shall take the utmost account of the evaluation
provided by the bodies concerned.

outcomes

objective

using

the

At

the Commission's initiative,

3.
funding may also be
provided for the period 2004 for expenditure on technical
and administrative assistance for the mutual benefit of the
Commission and the beneficiaries of the measure and falling
outside the realm of ongoing public service tasks, relating to
the identification, preparation, management, follow-up, audit
and monitoring of the measures.

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Article 11

International cooperation

Article 13

Entry into force

The Commission may cooperate with the Council of Europe
the
and other appropriate international organisations
purposes of the European Year of Education through Sport,
in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 5(2).

for

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that
of
the European
Communities.

its publication in the Official

Journal of

Article 12

Monitoring and evaluation

Done at . . .

The Commission shall submit, by 31 December 2005 at the
latest, a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment
of the measures provided for in this Decision.

For the European Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

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ANNEX

MEASURES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3

A. ACTION AT COMMUNITY LEVEL

1. Meetings and events:

(a) organisation of meetings;

(b) organisation of events to raise awareness on education through sport, including conferences to open and close

the European Year of Education through Sport;

(c) voluntary actions during Olympic and other sporting events in 2004.

2. Information and promotional campaigns involving:

(a) the development of a logo and slogans for the European Year of Education through Sport, for use in

connection with any activity linked to it;

(b) an information campaign;

(c) the production of tools and aids accessible to people throughout the Community;

(d) appropriate initiatives by educational institutions and sports organisations aimed at disseminating information

on the European Year of Education through Sport;

(e) the organisation of European educational competitions highlighting achievements and experiences on the

themes of the European Year of Education through Sport.

3. Other actions:

(a) setting-up of an on-line database, using available resources, as a means of disseminating good practice across
in particular, for promoting the social

Member States for the use of sport as a tool for education and,
integration of disadvantaged groups;

(b) surveys and studies that assess the impact of the European Year of Education through Sport.

4. Funding may take the form of:

(a) direct purchase of goods and services, in particular in the field of communication, surveys and studies as

referred to in point 3b) above, via open and/or restricted calls for tenders;

(b) subsidies allocated to cover the expenses of special events to highlight and raise awareness of the European

Year of Education through Sport; such funding shall not exceed 80 % of the total cost.

B. ACTION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Depending on the nature and content proposed, local, regional, national or transnational actions may qualify for aid
from the Community covering up to a maximum of 50 % of the total cost. These actions may, for instance, include:

1. events connected with the objectives of the European Year of Education through Sport, including an event to

launch the year;

2.

information campaigns and measures to disseminate examples of good practice, other than those mentioned in
Part A above;

3. the organisation of awards or competitions that highlight the importance of education through sport;

4. surveys and studies other than those mentioned in Part A above.

C. ACTION FOR WHICH NO COMMUNITY FINANCIAL AID IS AVAILABLE

The Community will offer its moral support, including written authorisation to use the logo and other materials
associated with the European Year of Education through Sport, for initiatives undertaken by public or private
organisations, where those organisations can satisfy the Commission that the initiatives involved are or will be in
progress during the year 2004 and are likely to contribute significantly to achieving one or more of the objectives of
the European Year of Education through Sport.

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STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I.

INTRODUCTION

1. On 16 October 2001, the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council a
proposal based on Article 149 of the Treaty for a decision designating 2004 as the European Year
of Education through Sport

2. The Economic and Social Committee adopted its opinion on 24 April 2002

3. The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on 15 May 2002

4. The European Parliament delivered its opinion on 14 May 2002

5. On 14 October 2002, the Council adopted its Common Position in accordance with Article 251 of

the Treaty.

II. AIM OF THE PROPOSAL

The proposal aims at promoting and developing education through sport in the course of the year
2004, to be designated ‘European Year of Education through Sport 2004’.

1. General comments

In its Common Position, the Council has approved the essence of the Commission proposal. It has,
however, introduced certain amendments which it thought necessary with a view in particular to
emphasising the educational content of the event, and which correspond broadly with Parliament's
opinion.

2. Specific comments

2.1. Amendments made by the Council to the Commission proposal

— The Council has sought to bring out more clearly throughout the text the contribution of
the planned sporting activities
the Communities
contribution to activities with a European dimension in accordance with Article 149 of
the Treaty.

to quality education and limits

— Care has been taken in drafting the text to ensure that the principle of subsidiarity which

underlies this proposal (cf. recital 18), is clearly adhered to;

— A new article 5, whose wording follows the agreed comitology procedures, has been
to which

the establishment of an advisory committee,

introduced to provide for
reference is made elsewhere in the text as appropriate.

— Surveys and studies at Community level have been clearly restricted to those that ‘assess the

impact of the European Year of Education through Sport’ (Annex A, 3(b)).

— The phrase ‘Olympic and other sporting events’ has been used (recital 13, Article 3(b),
annex A 1(c)), for the purpose of indicating the scope of the events covered, thereby
avoiding recourse to listing specific events in the course of 2004.

2.2. European Parliament amendments

2.2.1. Parliament amendments adopted by the Commission

The Commission accepted in full, in part or in essence 32 of the 42 amendments tabled.

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2.2.2. Parliament amendments adopted by the Council

The Council could accept in full, in part or in essence the majority of the Parliament's
amendments. However, in addition to those amendments that were unacceptable to the
Commission, the Council was also unable to accept certain amendments relating to
budgetary procedures (amendment 10 and 11) which it does not consider necessary
in the light of
the interinstitutional agreement on budgetary discipline and the
improvement of budgetary procedure.

Other unacceptable amendments were:

— amendment 6 (proposed new recital 12a), considered inappropriate as a value

judgement on the status of sport

— amendment 16 since Article 2(f) already covers the role of physical activity at school

— amendment 27 concerning the organisation of the European Year at Member State

level for reasons of subsidiarity

— amendment 32 concerning financial arrangements, having regard to the advisory

committee mentioned in article 5.

III. CONCLUSIONS

The Council considers that the text of its Common Position constitutes a clear and balanced framework
for the implementation of the measures envisaged for the European Year of Education through Sport
2004.