First meeting of Poland – Denmark – Cyprus Trio for co-operation in the area of sport
The meeting was attended by: Katarzyna Sobierajska, Undersecretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism; Ewa Suska, Director of the International Co-operation Department; employees of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism responsible for preparations for the Polish Presidency in 2011 in the area of sport; invited guests – representatives of the European Commission: Michal Krejza, Head of Sport Unit in DG Education and Culture; Susanne Hollmann; representatives of the Danish Ministry of Culture (in charge of sports in Denmark): Bente Skovgaard Kristensen, Head of Division, Sports Director; Sune Friis Krarup; and representatives of the Cyprus Sport Organisation: Vassos Koutsioundas and Paris Avraamides.
Discussions concerned changes resulting from entry of the Treaty of Lisbon into force, which provides the EU with new competences in the area of sports. The period of Polish Presidency in the EU Council will be key to negotiating sports-related programmes concerning financing sports from EU funds in the years 2012-2013 and 2014-2020.
Discussions also concerned including sports in the competence of the Education, Youth and Culture Council as well as establishing a Working Party “Sport” in the EU Council. Representatives of Trio states presented information on central sport organisation in their home countries and planned priority issues. The common priority area emphasised by all three Trio states consists in the use of sports potential to achieve social integration and equal chances of specific social groups.
The Warsaw meeting initiated work on the 18 month Presidency of the Trio in the area of sports which will be implemented during subsequent Presidencies of Poland, Denmark, and Cyprus from 1 July 2011 through the end of 2012.