1. Updated EN-list for personal protective equipment
The European Commission has published an updated list of European Norms (EN) for personal protective equipment, which is also often used during specific sport activities. The adherence to these norms is voluntary and does not contain any statutory duty, however many insurances use them as orientation for their guidelines. Listed is e.g. protective equipment for water and combatant sports as well as climbing and riding (helmets, lifejackets etc).
The list can be asked for at info@eu-sports-office.org.
2. Commissioner Figel meets European sports associations
On 13th October the Commissioner for, among other things, Sport, Jan Figel met the representatives of European sports associations in order to inform them about events on the European agenda regarding Sport and the EU and to provide an opportunity for an exchange of views.
Figel explained that, following the negative outcomes of the constitutional referenda in France and the Netherlands, there was no tangible prospect of a legal basis for sport at European level.
Nevertheless he has set goals for 2006, such as more intensive cooperation with the member States, the consideration of sport in Community policies and programmes and the maintenance of contacts with partners from European civil society (particularly sports organisations).
During the first half of 2006, another consultation conference with the sports movement is to be organised. This will discuss the topics Sport and health, Education and sport and Economic effects of sport.
Also in 2006, the subjects of Voluntary work in Sport, Sport and health, Financing sport and The social role of sport are to be discussed at four meetings of experts with government representatives.
At EU sports minister level, a meeting of the directors is scheduled in December 2005, as is a meeting of ministers (or directors) in March 2006 under the Austrian presidency.
In addition, Commissioner Figel will endeavour to ensure that sport is taken into consideration in future programmes such as, for example, the Youth programme and in the European year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.
Athletes are also to be invited to future European Commission meetings with representatives of the sports movement.
3. Concluding report Sector Inquiry 3G
The European Commission has concluded the Sector Inquiry into the competitive situation in the market for new systems of mobile communication that are able to transmit pictures (3G).
The Commission wants to ensure that critical sports content is not held back by anticompetitive conduct during the take up of the new mobile technologies. Such conduct would hamper consumers choice, innovation and competition within the media sector.
In this regard the Commission organised a public consultation in 2005 and received comments of several organisations (telecom and TV operators, sport organisations, etc.). It presented the preliminary results in May 2005.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/antitrust/others/sector_inquiries/new_media/3g/final_report.pdf
