UEFA at the heart of Europe

Crucial decisions
The office, just a short walk from the European Parliament, was opened on Tuesday after a year-long planning operation, and puts European football's governing body in the heart of the environment where European political movers and shakers take decisions which are often crucial for football as well.

Keeping pace
Over the last decade, UEFA has been keeping pace with the massive development of football in commercial, business and legal terms. This has also meant growing relations with the European political instances, as UEFA strives to protect the interests of European football. Issues such as broadcasting rules, freedom of movement of labour, doping, racism, and legal provisions for sport in future EU legislation have all been on the agenda, and have led UEFA to set up a Brussels 'branch'.

List of issues
"I don't think that an organisation such as UEFA, that has so much at stake, politically and commercially, could afford not to have an office in Brussels," said Jonathan Hill, recruited as head of the office after several years gaining invaluable experience working in EU circles. "There is a list of issues facing European football that are now debated at European level, whether it's the transfer fee system, the way our broadcasting rights are sold, the questions of racism and doping - these things are debated at European level, and often the decisions are taken at European level."

UEFA's view
Making the EU authorities aware of UEFA's views is a varied and interesting task for Hill, who comes from the English city of Nottingham. "We meet directly with sports ministers, advisers, European Commission officials, members of the European parliament, and representatives of the member states who have offices here as well. In our various meetings, we try to put over our view and get people to understand how we run football and what our needs are.

Lobbying work
"There's a lot of lobbying. We write position papers and brochures which set out those positions. We organise events – for example, we recently organised a lunch reception for 160 members of other sports federations in Verona, Italy. Earlier this year, we organised a seminar on EU affairs for all the presidents and general secretaries of the football associations of the ten new member countries of the EU, who are all joining next year. So we're trying to provide a service for UEFA member associations as well."

Duty to listen
Obviously, the founding of an office in the Belgian capital is not just about UEFA putting over its views. As with any dialogue, the European football body also has a duty to listen to others. "The advantage of having an office here is that we can listen to what these different institutions are saying and planning," said Hill.

Positive effect
One of UEFA's key objectives, along with sister sports bodies, is the legal recognition of the specific nature of sport in a future EU treaty, as well as the protection of the autonomy of sport's governing bodies. Recently, 12 out of 15 European Union member states agreed to recommend significant amendments to the wording of sport-related stipulations in the new draft of the EU Treaty. The positive effect of UEFA's Brussels presence is already being felt.

Honest and transparent
"Our relationship with the European authorities is a businesslike one," Hill reflected. "Obviously we don't agree on everything, but UEFA tries to work in an honest and transparent way with the EU, and this can only help our future dialogue."