Meeting of the EOC EU Commission in Brussels

The 2^nd meeting of the EOC EU Commission took place at the EOC EU Office on 13 October 2015. Representatives of Cypriote, Danish, Estonian, French, Georgian, Icelandic and Ukrainian NOCs got updated on European Union (EU) sport policy and met European Union’s sport policy officials.
Folker Hellmund, Head of the EOC EU Office, introduced the new slogan of the EOC EU Office – “The House of European Sport”, and provided an update on the High Level Groups on Sport Diplomacy and on Grassroots Sport and the five Council Expert Groups (e.g. on good governance or match-fixing).
The EOC EU policy officers then presented different sport-related aspects of the EU policy. Stefan Brost, from the German Football Federation, gave a precise overview about “how the Digital Agenda policy is affecting the sport movement”. Then, Valentin Capelli provided an overview about the Data Protection (see our detailed article on the Safe Harbour case), and the Visa reform: as this reform could include a so-called “touring visa” permitting non-EU sportspersons to stay longer in the EU.
The following session was led by Alexandre Husting from the Luxembourg Presidency, Chair of the Council Working Party on Sport. He highlighted the three priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency in sport: 1. signing of the Council of Europe convention on manipulation of sport competitions 2. promotion of motor skills, physical and sport activities for young children, and 3. representation of EU Member States in the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Yves Le Lostecque, Head of the Sport Unit of the European Commission, affirmed that the EU Sport Unit intends to work hand in hand with sport organisations. Regarding the EU funding, he recalled the EU priorities (gender equality, match-fixing, anti-doping). Mr. Le Lostecque expressed his confidence concerning the work of the High Level Group on Sport Diplomacy, stating that the question was “How can the EU help sport, and not how can sport help the EU”.