EU Sport Ministers Meeting in Luxembourg
On 6-7 July 2015, an informal meeting of EU Ministers responsible for sport was held. The event was organized under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which commenced on July 1st.
Informal meetings of EU Ministers for Sport are held once a year with the aim to discuss important issues related to sports cooperation between Member States.
This time, the Presidency proposed discussion on the EU's cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), effective dialogue with the sports movement, and cooperation with the Council of Europe.
Poland, represented by Dorota Idzi, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, called for the strengthening of the position of the European Commission with regard to participation in the work of WADA, and the streamlining of the procedures for preparing the EU position prior to meetings of WADA bodies. Moreover, Poland emphasized the need to apply the principles of good governance in sports organizations, also in the context of the recent arrests of FIFA officials. Minister Idzi also stated the need for change in the formula of the structured dialogue that is held twice a year prior to meetings of the EU Council for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport, so as to enable the participating European sports organizations to make a greater contribution to the work of EU bodies.
An important event was also the signing of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. Specific information on this subject is available at: http://www.msport.gov.pl/aktualnosci/polska-podpisala-konwencje-przeciwko-ustawianiu-zawodow-sportowych.