§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether discussions have taken place on giving the European Union a legal competence for sport within the proposed European Union constitution. [HL2587]
§ The Parlimentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)The draft Constitutional Treaty includes sport as an area of supporting, coordinating or complementary action. Article 111–182 details where European Union action on sport can complement that of member states. The Government are pleased to note that the Irish presidency has carried forward the amendments to Article 182 suggested by the Italian Government during their presidency. In recognising the specified nature of sport, these amendments more fully reflect the Nice declaration on sport.