WRITTEN QUESTION P-1093/04 by Armin Laschet (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Staging of football matches between TSV Alemannia Aachen, a German football club, and foreign opponents at the Kerkrade Stadium in the Netherlands.
Date: 2004-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, Netherlands, professional sport, sporting event, sports body

C 84 E/944

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/1042)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1087/04

by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Uncertainties regarding Finland’s Natura 2000 network

(5 April 2004)

The Finnish Government has on several occasions forwarded material to the Commission concerning the
Natura 2000 network which is to be established. Most recently the government took a decision on this on
22 January 2004. In its decision of that date it stated that Finland’s Natura 2000 network comprised 1 806
areas.

According to information provided by the Commission last year, however, Finland’s Natura 2000 network
was to comprise 1 832 areas. Moreover, again according to the Commission, their combined surface area
was 1 239 000 hectares greater than decided by the Finnish Government.

According to the information currently available to the Commission, how many Natura 2000 network
areas are there in Finland and what is their combined area?

How is it possible that the Commission’s information does not correspond to the decisions of the Finnish
Government?

What will the Commission do to bring its data into line with the decisions of the Finnish Government?

If the Commission adopts Finland’s Natura 2000 network on the basis of contradictory material, will the
legally binding decision comprise those areas designated by the Commission in its decision or those areas
which the Finnish Government has proposed?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

The Commission is investigating the differences identified with the Finnish authorities and undertakes to
ensure that there are no discrepancies prior to the formal Commission decision on the Natura 2000 list for
the Boreal region, which is programmed for later in 2004.

In relation to the discrepancies, these may arise from corrections in the data bases and consolidation of
some overlaps by the Finnish authorities which have yet to be fully incorporated within the Commission
figures.

The Commission will, after verification with the Finnish authorities, inform the Parliament of the latest
updated and agreed figures.

(2004/C 84 E/1043)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1093/04

by Armin Laschet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Staging of football matches between TSV Alemannia Aachen, a German football club, and foreign

opponents at the Kerkrade Stadium in the Netherlands

It is highly likely that the German football club TSV Alemannia Aachen will shortly be involved in
international matches, for example in the UEFA Cup. Since, however, the Aachen Stadium is not equipped
with the 80 % seating capacity prescribed by UEFA for such international fixtures, the club will be obliged
to seek an alternative stadium in which to play its matches.

The nearest stadium which meets the UEFA criteria is located just 10 km away in Kerkrade in the
Netherlands. On the other hand, the nearest such stadium in Germany is 80 km away. According to UEFA,
a German club must play its matches in a stadium in Germany.

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/945

Is this requirement compatible with the rules governing the single internal market and freedom of

1.
movement in the European Union?

Is it lawful for a sporting organisation such as UEFA to re-erect the national barriers which have long

2.
since been abolished by European law?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The Honourable Member is referring to the rules of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
which oblige German football clubs to play their matches in stadiums in Germany.

The applicable regulation is the Regulation of the UEFA Cup 2003/2004. According to Article 3(6) of the
Regulation, a club may play its matches in the territory of another UEFA member association subject to
the agreement of the UEFA authorities.

In its decision to reject a complaint in the ‘Mouscron’ case (1), the Commission took the view that the rule
to the effect that each club must play its home match at its own ground (‘at home and away from home’
rule) and the exceptions to that rule (which allow for the possibility of playing a match at a ground in a
town in another country) was needed to ensure equality between clubs. The Commission argued that by
adopting this rule and the exceptions to it, UEFA had exercised its legitimate right of self-regulation as a
sports organisation in a manner which could not be challenged by the Treaty’s competition rules. This rule
and the exceptions to it cannot constitute improper exercise of UEFA’s regulatory powers provided these
exceptions are applied by UEFA in an objective and non-discriminatory manner.

(1) Case COMP/36851, see IP/99/965.

(2004/C 84 E/1044)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1106/04

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Vaccination against bluetongue

A vaccine produced in South Africa is currently being used to combat the bovine disease, bluetongue.
At the moment the vaccine is not licensed for use in the European Union.

Cattle farmers, in Sicily in particular, are gravely concerned at the potentially huge damage to the livestock
population which would result from the planned vaccination campaign to prevent bluetongue. Recent
authoritative scientific studies say there is no risk of contagion for human beings or between susceptible
animals and point to the low mortality rate because of spontaneous recovery with auto-immunisation and,
consequently, the possibility in the near future of using inactivated vaccines with a very low risk of
vaccination incidents.

Does the Commission not consider that there is a risk in experimenting with this type of prophylactic
whose potential benefits and contra-indications are not yet known and which might cause serious
economic damage to livestock farmers?

Could the Commission suggest an alternative to this vaccine?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

As the Commission has already pointed out on several occasions, the decision to vaccinate against
bluetongue in Italy was not made without taking the necessary precautions.