Associations want legal framework

here

Unanimous acceptance
The resolution was adopted unanimously by the 52 UEFA member associations at the XXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress in Rome on Thursday, following a speech by Per Ravn Omdal, UEFA vice-president and president of the Norwegian Football Association.

Legal recognition
In his speech - available here - Mr Omdal said that UEFA's objective was to enshrine the legal recognition of the specific nature of sport in a future EU Treaty, and to protect the autonomy of European sport's governing bodies. This is to enable them to do their job properly, free from unnecessary interference from political authorities at national and European level.

Key principles
The Congress resolution gave support to key principles promoted by UEFA, such as solidarity and links between football's élite and grassroots, education and training of young players, integrity of competitions, the fight against racism and drug abuse, and protecting the specificities of sport and the autonomy of governing bodies.

'New challenge'
"The new challenge we face today concerns the legal basis of sport in the EU Treaty," said Mr Omdal, "As we speak, the Convention on the Future of Europe has already begun drafting the EU's new Constitutional Treaty, which Europe's leaders will be debating throughout 2004 and perhaps beyond. Part of this Treaty could potentially contain a new legal basis for sport - it is no exaggeration to say that the outcome of the discussions and the nature of the final text may have profound implications for the future of sport in Europe."

Clear, stable and consistent
Mr Omdal explained that the aim of UEFA and its associations was a legal framework in the new EU Treaty that was clear, stable and consistent, which should give a firm legal base to the principles set out in the Nice Declaration issued by European heads of state in December 2000.

'Greater legal certainty'
"This is not about obtaining an exemption from EU or national law," he said. "We are not, and should never be above the law. What we do need is a greater legal certainty. The good and proper running of football demands a proper framework for sport in EU law." UEFA's working group on EU matters has held a number of high-level meetings with EU ministers and officials in recent months to put over the European body's point of view, and Mr Omdal said that the ministers had been sympathetic to UEFA's arguments.

'Vital contribution'
"Our efforts will not cease until we have achieved our aims," Mr Omdal stressed to the associations. "Over the coming weeks, we can all make a vital contribution to the discussions in the European Convention and in our nation al governments. UEFA's 52 members give us the political legitimacy and the ability to approach every member of the European Convention, as well as every EU member state - old and new."

'Important step'
UEFA will be contacting its member associations in the coming days to inform them how each country could make an individual contribution at national level to achieving the European body's objective. "Now is the moment when the European Convention will be drafting the new Treaty provisions relating to sport," said Mr Omdal. "The resolution is an important step in our campaign to give sport in Europe a better legal base for the future."