Consultation on the EU Work Plan for Sport 2017-2020

On February 3^rd 2020 in Brussels, the European Commission’s Sport Unit invited a small group of sport stakeholders to participate in an informal consultation on the implementation of the EU Work Plan for Sport 2017-20. Among peers, Sport and Citizenship think tank was present to contribute its feedback as we welcome the opportunity to sustain an open dialogue with European sport policymakers.

With the third edition of the EU Work Plan for Sport nearing its end, the European Commission’s Sport Unit took the initiative to consult the sport movement on the document’s content, structure and implementation- following a similar consultation with Member States. The Work Plan is set to offer a framework of European cooperation in the field sport with a concrete timeline that encompasses the priority themes, key topics and outputs- without ever being constraining, as stakeholders and Member Sates remain entirely independent to focus their work on issues of their choice.

As a reminder, this 3^rd Work Plan is articulated around three priorities:

• Integrity of sport, in particular promoting good governance including the safeguarding of minors, the specificity of sport, combatting corruption and match fixing, as well as fighting doping;
• The economic dimension of sport, in particular innovation in sport, and sport and the digital single market;
• Sport and society, in particular social inclusion, the role of coaches, education in and through sport, sport and health, sport and environment and sport and media, as well as sport diplomacy.

While present stakeholders work on a broad variety of different topics, a general consensus prevailed that chosen priorities were appreciated for their relevance and should be continued. Suggestions for the future included further focus on grassroots sport, and on good governance, and a possible restructuring of priorities for greater clarity and flexibility. Discussions also confirmed Cluster Meetings are highly appreciated to implement the Work Plan priorities. However, several stakeholders did raise the need for a smoother succession of addressed topics, of responsible entities, and for more open collaboration between the latter and experts of the sport movement- which inevitably will further the advancement of different topics. Finally, a shared will to continue mainstreaming sport into other policy areas, alongside that to continue to foster inter-DG cooperation was expressed.

Looking to the future, the next Work Plan for Sport will be discussed and negotiated during the second half of 2020.