Doc. 9627

    22 November 2002

    European Sports Co-operation

    Recommendation 1565 (2002)

    Reply from the Committee of Ministers

    adopted at the 817th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (20 November 2002)

    1.       The Committee of Ministers has considered with interest Recommendation 1565 (2002) of the Parliamentary Assembly on European Sports Cooperation and welcomes the interest and concern expressed by the Assembly in this important area.

    2.       It understands the need for the sport sector to have increased resources, both human and financial (paragraph 10. i of the recommendation), given the number of areas within the work of the Council of Europe where sport interacts or should interact. It would stress the need for sport to continue to have a firm identity and strong visible presence within the organisation, as set out in paragraph 2 of the recommendation, in order to maintain the co-operation built up over three decades with other sectors of the Organisation.

    3.       With regard to systematic review of sport legislation in all member states (paragraph 10 ii), the Committee of Ministers firmly believes that proper legislation is one of the key foundations for a democratic sport system. It has welcomed the ready co-operation of the Sub-Committee on Youth and Sport to participate in Parliamentary hearings organised under the SPRINT programme to help countries bring their legislation in line with the criteria linked to the European Sports Charter.

    4.       With regard to promoting sport as a means of overcoming political tensions, also as a contribution to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (paragraph 10 iii and v), it should be noted that the sport sector of the Council of Europe has already worked and is continuing to do so in South East Europe. The example of the CDDS Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina on rehabilitation for the disabled through sport showed clearly that sports programmes can act as a means to integrate and build confidence between ethnic groups and ease political tensions. It is the Committee of Ministers’ conviction that sport can play a useful role within the Stability Pact.

    5.       With regard to promoting sport as part of educational programmes for refugees and displaced persons (paragraph 10 iv), it is to be noted that throughout greater Europe today there are some seven million refugees and displaced people. While only a certain percentage live in camps or temporary accommodation, sport in these circumstances can play an important role in combating physical and mental distress and providing a structure to life. As mentioned in paragraph 8, new programmes are planned to make sport and games for children and young people a distinct part of aid programmes for these groups. The CDDS project “Ballons Rouges” is a starting point for this.

    6.       With regard to co-operation with the European Union (paragraph 10 vi), the Committee of Ministers is encouraging member countries to contribute to the 2004 European Year of Education through Sport, particularly in the light of the follow-up to the 16th Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Sport in Warsaw on 12 and 13 September 2002. The CDDS is also planning active co-operation in this field.

    7.       The Committee of Ministers would stress the growing importance of both the sports Conventions drafted under its auspices. There is increasing emphasis on the anti–doping work throughout Europe and the Council of Europe has been an involved partner in the setting-up, establishment and the first 30 months of the existence of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

    8.       Hooliganism at sports events is unfortunately a phenomenon that is extending to countries that have not previously experienced this problem. The competence of the Council of Europe in this area was recognised by both Korea and Japan who sent delegations to a meeting in Strasbourg, organised by the Sport Department, to discuss this question prior to this year’s World Cup held in their countries.

    9.       Finally the Committee of Ministers would stress the importance and the success of its programme of monitoring activities, both evaluation and advisory visits, carried out on the European Sports Charter and the two Conventions. The “Compliance with Commitments” project has already been used by 15 countries to implement effectively one or more of the three texts. Nonetheless, the Committee of Ministers is obliged to recognise that, given budgetary restrictions, it will not be possible to meet the current 35 outstanding requests for visits within a reasonable timescale.