Europe out of the starting blocks: Infomoment on the Belgian EU-Presidency for Sport
The Flemish Minister for Sport, Philippe Muyters, revealed Flanders’ plans for sports for the Belgian EU presidency during the infomoment ‘Europe out of the starting blocks’, in the Flemish parliament on 8 June 2010. Over 100 participants from the sports sector took part in this event. “The sports sector must be well informed about what can be expected during the presidency and afterwards as Europe is becoming more important for sport as well," said minister Muyters.
Flanders EU sports policy
The Belgian presidency of the European Union is just around the corner. From 1 July to 31 December 2010, Belgium will lead the Council of the European Union (EU). Flanders therefore has an important role to play as it will take on the leading role for sport within the presidency. This means that the Flemish Minister for Sport will be the face of sport in the EU for the coming six months.
At the infomoment, the minister made it clear that the Flemish sports sector will be more and more involved with the EU in the future. The influence of the EU on sport has been rather indirect in the past: via jurisdiction from the European Court of Justice, such as the well-known Bosman ruling.
The future looks different, however. Sport did after all become a (complementary and supporting) EU competence on 1 December 2009 thanks to the Lisbon Treaty. The European Commission will define the outline for the future EU sports policy during the Belgian presidency. The Member States, presided over by Belgium in the Council of the European Union, will also be able to direct this policy. Flanders will intensively prepare the Member States’ reaction.
Minister Muyters also wants to emphasise the social role of sport. Education and training, the fight against doping and social inclusion will be high on the agenda.
Europeout of the starting blocks
“Europe out of the starting blocks” aimed to bring the Flemish sports sector closer to the new EU developments. Participation is the message. Flemish organisations can submit projects to the European Commission for financial support, to put the Flemish sports interest more clearly on the map. The added value of the EU will be perceptible not only during the presidency, but also afterwards. The Flemish sports sector must therefore also be ready, together with the minister, to shoot Europe out of the starting blocks!