European Sport
DCMS represents the UK on sports policy matters in the European Union and the Council of Europe. This includes:-
- representing the UK at EU Presidency meetings;
- 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.
There is no legal base for sport within the European Treaties. Sport is, therefore, subject to the subsidiarity principle - a matter for member states. However, EU Member States agreed a Declaration on Sport at Nice 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.
