Framework contract EAC/50/2009 framework contract for evaluation, evaluation related services and support for impact assessment

Sport in the European Union context has been developing since the late 1990s. The 2000 Nice Declaration recognised the integral role of sport in European society, while through the 2004 European Year of Education through Sport the Commission co-financed about 200 sport-related projects. However, it was not until the 2007 White Paper on Sport that the EU addressed sport-related issues in a comprehensive manner. The White Paper identified three dimensions of sport (social, economic and organisational) that should be taken into account when developing the EU’s approach and in the accompanying Action Plan “Pierre de Coubertin” suggested a number of actions to be implemented at EU level. The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (TFEU) in December 2009 marked another milestone, conferring a direct competence to the EU in the area of sport. Article 165 stipulates that: “The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures are based on voluntary activity and its social and education function”. Following from this, a budget line was granted for three years of Preparatory Actions (from 2009-2011) in the field of sport and special annual events, with the general objective of preparing for future EU actions in the field of sport in view of the implementation of the sport provisions of the Lisbon Treaty. The total budget for the 2009-2011 period amounts to about EUR 25.5m. The activities consisting of: Transnational collaborative projects, Non-commercial sport events of major importance, Studies, surveys and conferences. The main task of the evaluation was to analyse and assess the relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency, as well as the EU-added value, of the Preparatory Actions and special events that were carried out during 2009 and 2010, the first two years of Preparatory Action funding.