WRITTEN QUESTION E-1718/03 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Child protection in sport.
Date: 2003-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European cultural event, child protection, paedophilia, sport

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/157

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2003)

The Union is contributing to certain Olympic sports facilities via a loan made available by the European
Investment Bank (EIB), in particular for the renovation of the Olympic Stadium in Maroussi and the press
centre located nearby.

The Union is also contributing to the construction of various public transport facilities in the greater
Athens area under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The projects concerned areas follows (figures are the indicative ERDF contributions):

(cid:1) the extension of the ‘blue’ subway line from the Defense Ministry to Spata Airport (EUR 90 million);

(cid:1) the construction of two tram lines, from the Zappeion to Paleo Faliron and from Neo Faliron to

Glyfada (EUR 173 million);

(cid:1) the construction of the suburban railway from Spata Airport via Stavros to the ‘SKA’ railway node

close to Acharnes (EUR 342 million);

(cid:1) the completion of the ‘Attiki odos’ ring road, from Spata Airport via Stavros and the northern suburbs

to Eleusina (EUR 476 million);

(cid:1) the renovation of the ‘green’ subway line Piraeus-Kifissia (EUR 42 million);

(cid:1) the renewal of the Athens bus and trolley fleet (EUR 79 million).

The purpose of these projects is to contribute to the modernisation and extension of infrastructure
endowments in Greece. However, their timely completion could greatly facilitate the handling of the
expected traffic increase related to the Olympic Games. The realisation of the projects in time for the
Olympic Games is a priority for the Greek authorities.

Concerning the co-funding of the renewal of the Athens bus and trolley fleet, the normal requirements
relating to information and publicity apply.

(2004/C 33 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1718/03

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Child protection in sport

Decision No 291/2003/EC (1) of
the Council of 6 February 2003
the European Parliament and of
established the European Year of Education through Sport 2004. This is a welcome initiative from the EU,
giving the sports sector an important role in promoting education and health across the EU.

Sport is an extremely important social and educational tool for the millions of children who take part in
sports activities across the EU every day. However, it is vital that children are given the proper protection
and respect when taking part in all sports activities and events. The European Commission will be aware
that a growing number of cases of sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children and young people are
being reported in the sports sector. In the light of this, does the European Commission intend taking any
action to help promote the protection of children and young people involved in sports?

Would the Commission support the establishment of minimum standards to ensure that the EU sports
sector is in a position to act on reports of abuse in order to protect and safeguard the children and young
people in its care?

(1) OJ L 43, 18.2.2003, p. 1.

C 33 E/158

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2003)

As the Honourable Member has pointed out, 2004 has been designated ‘European Year of Education
through Sport’ in order to highlight the educational and social values of sport, as set out in the Helsinki
Report (1) and the Nice Declaration (2).

The aim of the European Year of Education through Sport is to strengthen the partnerships between the
worlds of education and sport and the public authorities, with a view to promoting education, health
protection and retraining in other fields for young sportspeople. In addition, under the preparatory actions
relating to sport, the Commission is going to finance studies under budget heading B3-1026 to analyse
sport’s impact on education and the role of sporting activities in establishing a balance in young people’s
lives. The results of all of these actions will be taken into account by the Commission in developing the
new generation of education and youth programmes. Certain conclusions could also be taken into account
with a view to giving sporting activities a greater role in other Community policies.

In response to the Honourable Member’s second question, the Commission would like to express its
concern regarding the issues raised. With regard to physical and emotional abuse, Council Directive 94/33/
EC of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work (3) addresses these issues. According to
Article 5 of this Directive, Member States lay down the working conditions for children, for example in the
case of sport. It is therefore up to Member States to make use of this Directive to intervene in the event of
dangers concerning young people who are involved in professional sport.

Various initiatives have been taken at Community level to tackle the sexual abuse of children in general.
The sexual exploitation of children is therefore prohibited according to the EU Charter of Fundamental
Rights. Furthermore, a political agreement was reached in the Council in October 2002 on a framework
decision concerning the prevention of sexual exploitation and child pornography. The Community is also
funding projects designed to tackle the sexual exploitation of children via its AGIS and Daphne
programmes.

(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 (644/99), 1.12.1999.

(2) OJ C 80, 10.3.2001.
(3) OJ L 216, 20.8.1994.

(2004/C 33 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1721/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Exclusion of destinations in Greece from the range of

international

tickets sold by railway

companies in other EU Member States

1.
Is the Commission aware that direct through train services from Germany and Austria to Greece,
which were suspended during the wars in the former Yugoslav federation, have now been partly restored
but it is not possible to reserve seats or sleeping-berths from other countries and is therefore necessary to
change in Ljubljana or Belgrade?

2.
Is the Commission aware that after the recent resumption of direct services, some cities such as
Thessaloniki and Athens in Greece were deleted from the computers of railway companies in other EU
Member States, so that it is no longer possible to buy train tickets to these destinations?

3.
Does the Commission realise that the fact that normal international through rail tickets are no longer
obtainable is particularly damaging for overland connections to Thessaloniki in the north of Greece, which,
unlike Athens, has no ferry connection with Italy?