Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, met this month with Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport in Brussels, following his attendance at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council with his EU counterparts.
Minister Ring sought the meeting with Commissioner Vassiliou to discuss sports issues and preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in 2013 and described it as ‘very positive’.
The Minister spoke to the Commissioner about the proposals for a sub-programme for sport in the Commission’s ERASMUS for ALL programme, announced last week. This will be the major legislative priority on sport in the EU over the coming years. Minister Ring endorsed the focus on developing grassroots sports – which are the bedrock of sport in Europe.
The main topic of discussion at the council meeting was a policy debate between EU sports ministers on good governance in sport.
Minister Ring said: “We need to ensure that best practice applies across all governing bodies of sport regardless of size. Any governance systems need to recognise the significant contribution and role that volunteers play in Irish sport.”
