The Lisbon Treaty and the Article on Sport
In the Lisbon Treaty, signed by the Heads of the EU Member States on 13th December 2007, sport is for the first time incorporated in a specific article, thus establishing that the European Union has partial competence over sport, much as it has over education and culture. In effect, the article recognises the social and political role of sport at European level and gives the European Commission a legal basis upon which to develop separate sports funding programmes.
Article 165, which deals with sport, states that, “The Union shall contribute to the promotion of sporting issues, while taking into account the specific nature of sport, its structure based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function.” It also emphasises that, “Union action shall be aimed at developing the European dimension in sport by promoting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and women, especially the youngest sportsmen and sportswomen”.
For sport, this change in EU policy is a milestone. The EOC EU Office is committed to working for the implementation of sport funding programmes within the framework of pilot projects from 2009 onwards.
- For further information: EUROPA/Treaty of Lisbon/Full text of the Treaty