An informal meeting of EU sports ministers will take place 12-13 March 2007. Issues under discussion include the relation between sport and economics, counter-measures for preventing violence, social integration, proposals for improving European co-operation in sport and doping.
On the first day of the conference, focusing on sport and economics, the ministers decided to establish an EU-wide database for sport to study its economic effects, which will generate detailed information on the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) accounted for by sport and, for example, the number of sport employees.
"According to estimates, sport accounts for about 1-3% of GDP in the EU member states. It creates and maintains jobs and thus makes an important contribution to achieving the goals of the Lisbon Agenda," said German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.
Another issue on the first day's agenda was sport and violence, and in particular counter-measures to be taken against riots, in particular in football. According to Minister Schäuble "counter-measures range from preventing violence - including social and integrative activities such as fan projects - to stopping violence through police measures. In particular, cross-border police operations, such as deploying police officers from the foreign fans' home countries during sporting events, will be further enhanced".
