EU Sport Directors discuss future EU sport policy in Genval
On September 16 and 17, the French Community has organised the informal EU Sport Directors Meeting within the framework of the Belgian EU Presidency.
Two main priorities of the Belgian EU Presidency were discussed: the future EU actions in the field of sport and the societal role of sport, including fair play.
Sport Directors discussed in particular education and training, volunteering and the fight against doping in sport.
As sport has officially become an EU competence following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on December the 1st last year, EU Sport Directors are looking forward to the Communication and the proposal for the first EU Sport Programme by the European Commission. They are also looking forward to continued cooperation between the Member States on reinforcing the societal role of sport.
As a result of the new EU competence, the Directors were happy to welcome the news about the change of the name for the Council formation for Education, Youth and Culture initiated by the Belgian EU Presidency. From now the EU will also have a ‘Sport Council’, as the Council will officially carry the name Education, Youth, Culture and Sport.
Another important point discussed in Genval concerns the mutual recognition of sport qualifications between the Member States. As of 2012 all EU countries are advised to mention the EQF qualification level on every qualification. Sport cannot miss out on this. With an equivalent in each Member State it will be easier for sport professionals and trainers to work in another country, which will stimulate mobility and free movement of workers. Member States are in full process of reviewing the existing structures and aligning them to EQF.
Volunteering in sport is another topic on which the Sport Directors have focused their attention. Next year will be the European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011). As sport is the sector in which most volunteering is being done in the EU, its role is very important for promoting active citizenships.
Furthermore, the Directors have discussed the common fight against doping in the EU, following the presentation of a study on the implementation of the WADA code in the Member States, ordained by the Flemish Minister for Sport, Philippe Muyters. As the study shows, many differences still persist between the EU countries. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty which brought an EU competence for sport, the Directors have also touched upon the international role of the EU in the fight against doping, in particular the relationship with WADA.
