Conclusions of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council

of 4 December 2000

on combating doping

(2000/C 356/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMISSION,

(1) EMPHASISE the importance of measures to combat doping in sport, as acknowledged by the European Union, in the conclusions of the European Council in Vienna on 11 and 12 December 1998. The European Council's conclusions underlined "its concern at the extent and seriousness of doping in sport, which undermines the sporting ethic and endangers public health. It emphasises the need for mobilisation at European level and invites the Member States to examine jointly with the Commission and international sports bodies possible measures to intensify the fight against this danger ...".

(2) NOTE the recent developments in this area and the creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and WADA's intention to become an international body based on public international law, and consider that arrangements should be made for the Member States' and the European Union's roles in that body in order to ensure that they are suitably represented on its Foundation Board.

(3) AGREE that the European Community and its Member States will be represented by the President-in-Office of the Council and a member of the Commission. Within a reasonable period of time before each meeting, coordination will take place under the responsibility of the Presidency. The Commission member will be able to speak on matters within the Community's sphere of competence in accordance with the Treaty and the case-law of the Court of Justice (given that there is no direct Community competence in the area of sport). The content of the statements made by the Commission member will be approved in accordance with the principles referred to above and following the customary procedures. Where appropriate, the Commission member may speak on matters which are not within the Community's sphere of competence, along the lines approved by a consensus of the Member States and in addition to the Presidency.

(4) NOTE that any Community expenditure on activities of WADA involving measures within the Community's sphere of competence will be decided in accordance with the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline. In particular, any significant Community expenditure will require the adoption, following a proposal from the Commission, of a measure with an appropriate legal basis.

(5) CONSIDER that the Member States should encourage cooperation between the competent authorities at national level on efforts to combat doping in sport.