WRITTEN QUESTION E-1860/03 by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. State aid for football clubs.
Date: 2003-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, State aid, control of State aid, professional sport, restriction on competition, sports body

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/181

(2004/C 33 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1860/03

by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Subject: State aid for football clubs

A number of professional football clubs in the Netherlands have recently received financial assistance from
local authorities to rescue them from the threat of bankruptcy. Similar practices occur in other Member
States. Local politicians are under heavy pressure from clubs and supporters, in the face of a lack of clarity
surrounding European competition rules.

Does the Commission agree with the author of this question that the provision of financial assistance to
football clubs by the authorities (state aid) leads to distortion of competition on the European football
market?

How does the Commission define the European football market, and where does it consider the dividing
line between national football markets and the European market to lie? Does it regard only the market for
players as important, or does the football market have other aspects that are relevant to competition?

Is the Commission prepared (cid:1) in the light of the fact that, taking advantage of the lack of clarity
surrounding the permissibility of assistance, the authorities in the Netherlands, and also in other Member
States, are currently assisting football clubs by a variety of means (cid:1) to submit as soon as possible a
communication laying down the necessary framework conditions for assistance to football clubs, so as to
put an end to the present situation characterised by a lack of clarity and by distortion of competition?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty stipulates that ‘aid granted by a Member State, which distorts competition by
favouring a specific undertaking, shall insofar as it affects trade between Member States be incompatible
with the common market’.

Professional football clubs that engage in economic activities, like selling broadcasting rights, concluding
advertising and sponsorship contracts and distributing merchandising articles are to be considered
undertakings. A transfer of financial resources to certain professional football clubs is likely to distort
competition between these undertakings.

The question is not whether there is a European football market though, but whether the mentioned
activities are subject to trade between Member States. Not all football clubs are performing all these
activities. In addition, it seems that not in all of these cases an effect on trade between Member States can
be established.

Since the application of state aid rules is relatively new in this sector, the Commission maintains that its
policy has to be developed on the basis of individual cases. In its practice up to now the Commission has,
in certain cases, not objected to subsidies in this sector when the state subsidies served an educational
objective or the aid was granted for the construction of stadiums which can be under certain conditions
considered as general infrastructure. The Commission will continue to develop and clarify its policy in this
area, when dealing with specific cases.

(2004/C 33 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1861/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Subject: Minotauro project

The Spanish ‘Minotauro’ project, which includes bull running and may possibly include bullfighting, has
Interreg IIIC is designed to
been proposed for financing under the Interreg IIIC South programme.