Since the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union has a competence in sport. This competence, outlined in Article 165 of the Treaty, allows the European Union to provide a supporting role for sport. Specifically, "the Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function". The Treaty also prevents the European Union harmonising legislation in the field of sport.

Regardless of the Treaty, sport and recreation have always been influenced by the machinations of the European Union - particularly where other policy fields interact with sport. The EU's rules on free movement heralded a new era for football through the Bosman case, but day-to-day EU activity like legislation on pesticides or audiovisual requirements will affect how you putt on a green or watch sport on your TV.

In this section we will look at: 

• What Europe can do for sport
• How European Court of Justice cases have affected sport
• European Commission's sport strategy

For further information on any recent European policy developments, please consult our Policy Update page.