WRITTEN QUESTION E-2260/03 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. European licensing system for professional football clubs.
Date: 2003-07-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competence of the Member States, professional sport, sports body

C 33 E/240

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

(2004/C 33 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2260/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: European licensing system for professional football clubs

(8 July 2003)

In the Netherlands,
the Royal Dutch Football Association has set up a new licensing system for
professional football clubs which is transparent, sound and geared to clubs’ long-term solvency; it will
come into force in the 2004/2005 football season.

What does the Commission think of a European licensing system along the lines of the new Dutch system?
Is it willing to encourage a UEFA changeover in the near future?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that it can intervene only in matters within the
Community’s jurisdiction. Sport is the responsibility of the Member States and of sporting organisations.

The Commission is, in principle, in favour of developing licensing systems for professional football clubs,
provided these are compatible with Community law. With this in mind, the Commission takes account of
fair competition, as recommended in the Nice Declaration (1). Licensing systems can indeed help to ensure
the sound financial management of clubs and thus to correct certain questionable developments which
have been observed in professional football.

(1) Point 2 of the ‘Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which
account should be taken in implementing common policies’, Annex to the Presidency Conclusions of the Nice
European Council, 8 December 2000.

(2004/C 33 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2263/03

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 July 2003)

Subject: Structural funding in Scotland

Can the Commission provide statistics on the proportion of EU structural funding allocated to Scotland
since the beginning of the current programming period (2000 to 2006) which has actually been spent?
Can the Commission provide statistics on the proportion of structural funding allocated to Scotland in the
current programming period which has been, or is due to be, decommitted? Can the Commission similarly
provide statistics regarding the proportion of total monies originally allocated to Scotland from the
Structural Funds during the previous programming period (1993-1999) which were actually spent? And
can the Commission provide statistics on the proportion of total monies initially allocated to Scotland
from the Structural Funds during that same programming period which are subsequently decommitted?
With respect to the statistics relating to decommitments, can the Commission indicate the specific projects
concerned, and the reasons why the money was decommitted?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

For the period, 2000-2006, payments by the Commission may take the form of payments on account,
interim payments or payments of the final balance in accordance with Article 32 (1) of Council Regulation