WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1258/98 by Freddy BLAK to the Commission. Discrimination over the sale of tickets for the World Cup football tournament
C 402/102 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 12. 98 It should also be stated that Article 90, paragraph 3 of the EC Treaty applies to this area. This requires the Commission to ensure that Member States neither take nor continue any action that does not obey the rules set out in the EC Treaty in respect of any public bodies or of bodies to which they grant special or exclusive rights. Where so needed the Commission may send the appropriate directives or decisions to the Member States. 3. If Community postal service providers combine activities for which they hold a monopoly with other activities which are subject to the free forces of competition this does not conflict with Community law. However, any such combination entails a risk that certain activities exposed to competition are improperly subsidised from the revenues arising from a protected monopoly. Such an instance could infringe Article 86, Article 92 or Articles 86 and 90, paragraph 1 of the EC Treaty, as explained by the Commission in its communication. (1) OJ C 39, 6. 2. 1998. (2) OJ L 15, 21. 1. 1998. (98/C 402/131) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1258/98 by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Discrimination over the sale of tickets for the World Cup football tournament 1. What is the Commissionís view of the case concerning discrimination over the sale of tickets for the World Cup football tournament in France in 1998? 2. What steps has it taken to remedy the situation so that EU citizens are guaranteed equal access to the purchase of tickets for the 1998 World Cup? 3. What action does it intend to take to ensure that a similar situation does not arise in the future with events of this kind in the EU? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (24 June 1998) The Commissionís services have completed a preliminary assessment of the arrangements for the sale of World Cup tickets by the tournament organisers (the ComitØ français díorganisation de la Coupe du Monde de Football 1998 (CFO), and have taken the preliminary view that they breach the competition provisions of the EC Treaty insofar as they required those wishing to purchase tickets directly from the CFO to provide an address in France to which the tickets could be sent. This requirement appears to have discriminated against consumers resident outside France who, for one reason or another, were unable to obtain tickets through accredited tour operators or from their respective national football federations. As such the Commissionís services have informed the CFO of their preliminary view that it has abused its dominant position in the market for World Cup tickets contrary to Article 86 of the EC Treaty. In order to redress, as far as was possible, the effects of this discriminatory behaviour the Commission asked the CFO to make available all remaining unsold tickets exclusively to residents outside France. The CFO indicated on 23 March 1998 that it could not agree to such a request but would instead offer these tickets to French and non- French residents alike on a non-discriminatory basis. In view of this refusal the Commission is currently preparing formal legal proceedings against the CFO in relation to tickets sold under the above-mentioned discriminatory arrangements. The Honourable Member can be assured that the Commission will not hesitate to act against organisers of international sporting events should similar circumstances arise in the future. Nevertheless, the Commission would prefer to resolve any problems at an earlier stage, and as such welcomed the recent initiative of the Union of European Football associations (UEFA) to discuss in full the ticketing arrangements for the 2000 European football championships with a view to ensuring their compatibility with Community competition rules