RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision authorising Member States to become parties, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (CETS No 218)

21.2.2019 - (12527/2018 – C8‑0436/2018 – 2018/0116(NLE)) - ***

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Rapporteur: Sylvia‑Yvonne Kaufmann

Procedure : 2018/0116(NLE)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A8-0080/2019
Texts tabled :
A8-0080/2019
Debates :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision authorising Member States to become parties, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events

(12527/2018 – C8‑0436/2018 – 2018/0116(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision (12527/2018),

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 87(1) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), and Article 218(8) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8-0436/2018),

–  having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (CETS No. 218),

–  having regard to the Council Decision 2002/348/JHA of 25 April 2002 concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension[1],

–  having regard to its resolution of 2 February 2017 on an integrated approach to Sport Policy: good governance, accessibility and integrity[2],

–  having regard to Rule 99(1) and (4), and Rule 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education (A8-0080/2019),

1.  Gives its consent to the draft Council decision;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and other Sports Events of the Council of Europe was opened for signature in July 2016. The Convention is the only internationally binding instrument establishing an institutional cooperation between all public and private stakeholders involved in organising football and other sports events.

It builds on the European Convention on Spectator Violence from 1985. The number of football matches, and other sport events, with high attendance has increased a lot since then. Millions of European citizens attend football matches and other sports events every year. Since travelling has become easier and more affordable, supporters not only watch matches of their teams from home but also travel throughout whole Europe. Public viewing areas and fan zones practices have evolved. A study undertaken and submitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe concluded, because of these and other examples, that the Convention of 1985 had to be revised in order to address the current challenges and evolutions.

Individuals attending football matches and other sports events should always enjoy a safe, secure and welcoming environment around and at matches. The Rapporteur therefore supports the aim of the Convention, to provide this environment via a balanced approach between the three interdependent pillars: safety, security and service.

Safety measures shall make sure that individuals who attend matches are protected from being injured or facing a health risk on their journey to the vent or in the venue of the event. Security measures shall deter, prevent and sanction any violent misbehaviour in connection with football matches. Last but not least, service measures shall make the journey and the stay in the stadium enjoyable and welcoming for everyone and provide facilities to children, the elderly and people with disabilities allowing therefore every citizens to fully enjoy sports events in the most secure and safe way possible. Sports events shall remain peaceful and enjoyable for everyone.

A committee of experts will monitor the application of the Convention. The rapporteur would like to express her support that not only FIFA, UEFA, Association of European Professional Football Leagues, the EU and Interpol are involved in this Committee, but also organisations like “Football Supporters Europe” and “Supporters Direct Europe" which represent the football supporters throughout Europe.

The Rapporteur supports the various measures described in the text to reach the aim of the Convention. She would like to highlight one specific point out of many important ones: All parties of the Convention shall incorporate clear policies and procedures on crowd management and associated safety and security risks, in particular on any racist or other discriminatory behaviour, including quite often derogatory sexist and/or homophobic/transphobic insults. It is therefore important to improve diversity in sports and support initiatives by athletes themselves or their clubs to fight against any discriminations.

A study[1][1] (“Racism, ethnic discrimination and exclusion of migrants and minorities in sport: The situation in the European Union”) drawn up by the Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU (FRA) states that “sport continues to face a number of challenges related to racism and ethnic discrimination. Incidences of racism and ethnic discrimination affect sport at professional as well as at amateur level.”

Sport shall bring together people, regardless of their sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age and sexual orientation. The fight against any discriminatory behaviour in our society is crucial. The Rapporteur welcomes the approach in the Convention to promote tolerance, respect and fair play and encourages the Member States to pay high attention on the implementation of this important aspect.

Since the EU itself cannot become a party to the Convention, and since the Member States may become a party to that Convention in respect of some paragraphs only if so empowered by the EU, the Rapporteur would like to invite all members of the European Parliament to support her draft report and the Council decision authorising the Member States to sign and ratify the Convention in the interest of the EU and its people.

  • [1]    https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/1207-Report-racism-sport_EN.pdf

OPINION of the Committee on Culture and Education (11.2.2019)

for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to become party, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (CETS n°218)
(COM(2018)0247 – C8‑0436/2018 – 2018/0116(NLE))

Rapporteur for opinion: Emma McClarkin

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The rapporteur welcomes the Convention’s emphasis on an integrated, multi-agency approach targeting safety, security and service; and on a partnership ethos between authorities and stakeholders acting together. In particular, your rapporteur welcomes the role that supporters’ groups have played in drafting the Convention, and hopes that similar engagement be maintained going forward.

The subject of sports safety is of upmost importance especially in light of recent cases of racism and violence in international football. Your rapporteur notes progress towards making sports events safe for all attendees, and encourages political engagement with international sports governance actors for example in the form of  joint campaigns such as ‘Kick It Out’ as well as sports stadium safety professionals. 

The rapporteur also calls on Member States and sports authorities to review policies on all-seater stadium regulations with a view to opening sections of the stadia to standing spectators. The example of Germany offers valuable lessons of how new safe standing can enhance the experience of live sports events whilst maintaining safety. 

Finally, your rapporteur calls on the EU and Member States to deepen cooperation with partners in international fora, for example through the Project Stadia initiative, which aims to help INTERPOL member countries plan and execute policing and security preparations for major sporting events.

******

The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to recommend that Parliament give its consent to the proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to become party, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention on an integrated safety, security, and service approach at football matches and other sports events (CETS No 218).

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title

Proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to become party, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (CETS No 218)

References

12527/2018 – C8-0436/2018 – COM(2018)02472018/0116(NLE)

Committee responsible

 

LIBE

 

 

 

 

Opinion by

       Date announced in plenary

CULT

25.10.2018

Rapporteur

       Date appointed

Emma McClarkin

29.11.2018

Date adopted

4.2.2019

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

16

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Dominique Bilde, Andrea Bocskor, Silvia Costa, María Teresa Giménez Barbat, Petra Kammerevert, Rupert Matthews, Luigi Morgano, Michaela Šojdrová, Helga Trüpel, Sabine Verheyen, Julie Ward, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Milan Zver

Substitutes present for the final vote

Norbert Erdős, Romeo Franz, Dietmar Köster

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

16

+

ALDE

María Teresa Giménez Barbat

ECR

Rupert Matthews

ENF

Dominique Bilde

PPE

Andrea Bocskor, Norbert Erdős, Michaela Šojdrová, Sabine Verheyen, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Milan Zver

S&D

Silvia Costa, Petra Kammerevert, Dietmar Köster, Luigi Morgano, Julie Ward

VERTS/ALE

Romeo Franz, Helga Trüpel

0

-

 

 

0

0

 

 

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title

Proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to become party, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (CETS No 218)

References

12527/2018 – C8-0436/2018 – COM(2018)02472018/0116(NLE)

Date of consultation / request for consent

15.10.2018

 

 

 

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

LIBE

25.10.2018

 

 

 

Committees asked for opinions

       Date announced in plenary

CULT

25.10.2018

 

 

 

Rapporteurs

       Date appointed

Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann

11.6.2018

 

 

 

Discussed in committee

29.1.2019

19.2.2019

 

 

Date adopted

19.2.2019

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

38

3

1

Members present for the final vote

Asim Ademov, Malin Björk, Michał Boni, Caterina Chinnici, Daniel Dalton, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Tanja Fajon, Laura Ferrara, Romeo Franz, Kinga Gál, Ana Gomes, Nathalie Griesbeck, Monika Hohlmeier, Sophia in ‘t Veld, Barbara Kudrycka, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Roberta Metsola, Claude Moraes, Ivari Padar, Judith Sargentini, Csaba Sógor, Sergei Stanishev, Helga Stevens, Traian Ungureanu, Bodil Valero, Josef Weidenholzer, Tomáš Zdechovský, Auke Zijlstra

Substitutes present for the final vote

Carlos Coelho, Miriam Dalli, Gérard Deprez, Ska Keller, Jeroen Lenaers, Andrejs Mamikins, Morten Helveg Petersen, Emil Radev, Barbara Spinelli, Jaromír Štětina

Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote

Iris Hoffmann, Sabine Lösing, Ivan Štefanec, Rainer Wieland

Date tabled

21.2.2019

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

38

+

ALDE

Gérard Deprez, Nathalie Griesbeck, Sophia in 't Veld, Morten Helveg Petersen

ECR

Daniel Dalton, Helga Stevens

EFDD

Laura Ferrara

PPE

Asim Ademov, Michał Boni, Carlos Coelho, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Kinga Gál, Monika Hohlmeier, Barbara Kudrycka, Jeroen Lenaers, Roberta Metsola, Emil Radev, Csaba Sógor, Ivan Štefanec, Jaromír Štětina, Traian Ungureanu, Rainer Wieland, Tomáš Zdechovský

S&D

Caterina Chinnici, Miriam Dalli, Tanja Fajon, Ana Gomes, Iris Hoffmann, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Andrejs Mamikins, Claude Moraes, Ivari Padar, Sergei Stanishev, Josef Weidenholzer

VERTS/ALE

Romeo Franz, Ska Keller, Judith Sargentini, Bodil Valero

3

-

ENF

Auke Zijlstra

GUE/NGL

Sabine Lösing, Barbara Spinelli

1

0

GUE/NGL

Malin Björk

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention

Last updated: 27 February 2019
Legal notice - Privacy policy