February 3 – The European Commission has registered a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Win It On The Pitch’, which, if it gains enough public support, will force the EC to consider the proposal aimed at protecting the European sports model.
A European Citizens’ Initiative allows 1 million citizens from at least seven EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose legal acts in areas where it has the power to act.
The ‘Win It On The Pitch’ proposal calls for the protection of European sport “based on values, solidarity, sustainability and open competition”. Essentially, it is formally asking the EU to adopt laws that would prevent a European Super League breakaway from happening.
The process is that the proposal has to be first recognised as valid by the Commission. The proposers now have six months to open the signature collection and a year to collect one million statements of support from at least seven different EU member states that will mean the Commission will have to react.
The proposal asks the EC to adopt a recommendation that provides a framework and guidelines for action from Member States “to protect the model of football in Europe, to recognise the social value of sport in European society and the specific nature of sport in the EU competition rules and to strengthen the EU vision and long-term policy on the future and governance of European sport”.
The main organiser listed on the EC website notifying the citizens’ initiative has been accepted is Ronan Evian who is based in France and is executive director of the Football Supporters Europe organisation.
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