The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a productive meeting with a number of EU Sports Ministers and their representatives at its headquarters in Lausanne. Aimed at fostering stronger dialogue between the governments and the Olympic Movement, this first gathering was a concrete step towards closer collaboration now that sport is mentioned in the EU Treaty - agreed upon by heads of states in Lisbon in October last year.
Discussions focused on the relevance of sport within the new EU Treaty and future implementation of this provision. The representatives of the Olympic Movement expressed their satisfaction at this important milestone and their determination to move things forward.
The autonomy and specificity of sport were also raised during the meeting, with the representatives of the Olympic Movement taking the opportunity to reiterate why the consideration of the specific characteristics of sport in the EU is crucial for the future of European sport.
The EU ministers and the Olympic Movement agreed on the principle of regular consultative meetings which would also include the European Parliament and the EU Commission.
Source: IOC
