DCMS represents the UK on sports policy issues in the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE).
This includes:
- Participating in EU and CoE meetings of Sports Ministers and officials
- Liaising with EU/CoE Member States on specific issues (such as European involvement in funding and development of the World Anti-Doping Agency)
- Responding to policy initiatives from EU/CoE Member States and European sports federations
The EU currently has no legal basis within the
Treaties that govern it for taking direct action in sport. Sport policy therefore remains a matter for national governments.
However, the EU does have a role in many areas of policy that have some impact upon sport, for example, 2004 was the
European Year of Education through Sport (EYES 2004). The European Commission fund projects across the EU (including 16 in the UK) aimed at encouraging participation in sport for educational, social and cultural purposes.
EU Member States also agreed a
Declaration on Sport at the Nice European Council in 2000. This was drawn up to recognise that sport has special characteristics (the 'specificity' of sport) and that European rules and regulations must be applied in a way which is sensitive to the special needs of sport.
The primary aim of the Council of Europe is to defend human rights, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law. It promotes these values in sport by overseeing the Conventions on Anti-Doping and Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour and Sports Events. It also acts to maintain the integrity and the virtues of sport through the Sport for All Charter and the Code of Sport Ethics.
The Council of Europe website has more information about these activities.
