WRITTEN QUESTION E-2261/03 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. Survey of government support for professional football clubs.
Date: 2003-07-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Netherlands, State aid, control of State aid, professional sport

C 65 E/122

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

(2004/C 65 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2261/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(8 July 2003)

Subject: Survey of government support for professional football clubs

further to the letter of 11 July 2002 to it

The Netherlands’ Government,
from the Commission
(DG Competition H3/NTI/amv D(2002) 0422), has had a survey carried out of the type and extent of the
football clubs (and their home
financial relationship between 33 local authorities and professional
grounds). As a result of the survey, the Netherlands’ Government is now taking action to eliminate the lack
of clarity surrounding the relationship between government and professional football clubs, having regard
to the role they play in society, in a collaborative effort involving central government, provinces, local
authorities, the Royal Dutch Football Association and the Commission.

However, such lack of clarity is not confined solely to the Netherlands. A similar survey of the situation
throughout Europe would therefore be particularly welcome.

Has the Commission voiced its concerns to other Member States about suspected State aid? If so, which?

What does the Commission think of a Europe-wide survey of government support for professional football
clubs? Is the Commission willing to have such a survey carried out?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 August 2003)

The Commission is currently assessing several potential state aid measures. In so far, questions have been
posed to the Italian government regarding a decree allowing an apparently favourable application of
accounting rules to professional sports clubs. The answers to these questions are currently being assessed.
At the same time, based on a complaint, the sale of certain real estate to football club AZ in the
Netherlands is under assessment. In this case the Commission has opened on 23 July 2003 a formal
procedure. The Commission also recalls that it examined a French government’s notification about public
subsidies for professional sports clubs in 2001 and decided not to object because the measures were
designed to assist education and initial training and as such constituted an educational or comparable
scheme but not a state aid under the EC Treaty.

The Commission maintains that its policy should be developed on the basis of individual cases. Therefore,
the Commission does at this stage not intend to launch a Europe-wide investigation regarding state aid to
professional football clubs.

(2004/C 65 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2270/03

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(7 July 2003)

Subject: Bari as the seat of the European Bank for the Mediterranean

Southern Italy is becoming a powerhouse for development projects, and the human resources to be found
there have an increasingly high degree of professional expertise.

The authorities in southern Italy have undoubtedly matured and are able to respond to the call to cut
through the red tape and speed up the procedures.

Apulia in particular has shown itself to be capable of genuinely meshing with European programming.

Will the Commission support Bari’s application to become the seat of the European Bank for the
Mediterranean, bearing in mind the strategic geopolitical position of Apulia within the Mediterranean
region?