WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3103/98 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. Purchase of Manchester United Football Club
C 118/180 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 Can the Council say whether or not everyone is free to organise professional and amateur sporting activities, on a one-off or series basis, in a free market system, unlike the CONI-dominated monopolistic system that exists in Italy, in particular in view of the multi-billion lira subsidies CONI receives? Reply (7 December 1998) Given the division of responsibilities between Institutions provided for by the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Council can only inform the Honourable Member that this is a matter for the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 89 and 90 of the EC Treaty. (1999/C 118/231) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3103/98 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Purchase of Manchester United Football Club In view of the purchase of Manchester United Football Club by Rupert Murdoch, will the Commission confirm that any attempt to prevent television stations (other than those which are part of Mr Murdochís media empire) from acquiring television rights would constitute a breach of Article 86? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1998) Article 86 EC of the EC Treaty prohibits any abuse by undertakings of a dominant position within the common market or in a substantial part of it in so far as it may affect trade between Member States. However, the application of Article 86 to any individual case depends on an evaluation of the surrounding legal and economic circumstances in order to determine, in particular, whether, in fact, the undertaking holds a dominant position and whether its conduct amounts to an abuse of that dominant position. It is not, therefore, possible to determine at this stage whether, in the event that BSkyBís bid for Manchester united football club is successful and obtains the necessary clearances, any possible future conduct of BSkyB would contravene Article 86 EC of the EC Treaty. (1999/C 118/232) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3108/98 by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1998) Subject: Tourism in the developing countries: safeguarding an important source of income Tourism is a primary source of income for many developing countries. At the same time, ill-conceived tourist developments can often have adverse social and environmental consequences for developing countries. Are any plans in the offing at European Union level to help promote socially and environmentally aware tourism in Third World countries?