Spanish EU-Presidency and sport related topics
2010-02-08As to Sport the following changes arise from the obligations of the new treaty: at ministry level a “Sport Ministers Council” for the representatives of the national ministries related to sport will be established.
The Council will not have any law-making power but will just be able to publish positions and recommendations. A first constitutive meeting is to take place on April 20 - 21, 2010 in Madrid on informal level. The first official “Sports Ministers Meeting” is scheduled on May 10, 2010 in Brussels. Moreover, the „Sport Unit“ of the DG Education and Culture (EAC) will gain more competencies regarding sport related matters while the European Parliament will obtain greater co-decision power concerning the EU sport funding budget.
With regards to content, the following Sport related topics appear on the agenda of the
Spanish EU Presidency:
- "Physical Activity and Health":
Increased integration of Sport in the following EU funding programs:
"7th Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (FP7)"
"Youth in Action"
"EU Health Program"
"Lifelong Learning"
- "Fight against Doping": Expanded cooperation with the Council of Europe, the UNESCO and the WADA as to implementing health enhancing policies and doping prevention measures.
- „Sport and Social Integration": Enhanced social inclusion of young people and immigrants in sport funding programs. Promotion of voluntary engagement.
- Further implementation of the „Action plan Pierre de Coubertin" (see: "White Paper on Sport")
The most important political Sport meetings to be held under the Spanish EU Presidency:
- Sportdirector´s meeting: 24-25 February 2010 in Barcelona
- EU Sport Forum: 19-20 April 2010 in Madrid
- Informal Sports Ministers Meeting: 20-21 April 2010 in Madrid
- Official Sports Ministers Meeting: 10 Mai 2010 in Brussels
- EU Sports Conference: 3-5 June 2010 in Madrid