Aero Club of the European Community

Club of Institutions of the European Community Specialising in Long Term Credit

12. Stresses that, in an increasingly competitive global sports market, sufficient monitoring and proper enforcement of intellectual property rights related to the media, trademarks, commercial communications and others must be protected; asks the Commission and the Member States to redouble their efforts to protect sports organisations’ intellectual property rights to create a level playing field in the EU, while respecting the freedom of expression and the press, and to take into account the importance of this revenue for the funding of grassroots sport, as this in turn enables professional clubs to engage in charity work for the benefit of local communities and grass ...[+++]roots sports;

L. whereas ECJ case-law confirms that professional football clubs and associations are economic entities and are thus subject to Community law whenever they pursue an economic activity,

(8d) The Community should ensure that the EU's macro-financial assistance is exceptional and limited in time, complementary to the assistance given by Bretton Woods institutions, bilateral donors and the Paris Club creditors, as well as conditional on meeting clearly identified requirements, including political pre-conditions, and is carefully monitored and assessed in order to prevent fraud and financial irregularities.

(9e) The Community should ensure that the EU's macro-financial assistance is exceptional and limited in time, complementary to the assistance from the Bretton Woods institutions, bilateral donors and the Paris Club creditors, as well as conditional on meeting clearly identified requirements, including political pre-conditions, and is carefully monitored and evaluated in order to prevent fraud and financial irregularities.