On 28 August the European Commission presented its proposal for the first ever Council Recommendation on health enhanced physical activity. The aim of this proposal is to improve the health of European citizens by encouraging them to take part in physical activity such as sport. This Council Recommendation was called for by the Council back in November 2011 following its conclusions on health enhanced physical activity. It advised that the EU 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines should form the basis of the recommendation.

Despite being the first ever Council Recommendation on physical activity, it is not the first European initiative promoting sport and exercise among European citizens. The European Commission has been involved in a number of measures and initiatives in recent years which aim to encourage European citizens to get active. The EU has been involved in providing financial support in the areas of sport and health. Furthermore, the EU has demonstrated its support for promoting physical activity through structures that encourage policy coordination. One example of such a structure is the Expert Group on Sport, Health and Participation. This group was set up under the EU Work Plan for Sport 2011- 2014. This work plan outlines a number of specific measures which member states should implement in the 2011-2014 timeframe. The plan focuses on three main priority areas; the integrity of sport, the social values of sport and finally the economic aspects of sport. An evaluation on the progress made by this work plan is due to be submitted at the end of 2013.

In 2011 the Commission published a Communication on the promotion of physical activity. The Communication identifies exercise and sport as one of the most important health determinants in modern society. Furthermore, the Communication encourages member states to introduce the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines. These guidelines reflect the recommendations drawn up by the World Health Organisation (WHO). These recommendations emphasise the importance of a cross sectorial approach, state the minimum level of physical activity required to maintain a healthy lifestyle and outline forty one guidelines for concrete action in the promotion of physical activity.

The Commissioner responsible for sport, Androulla Vassiliou, views the recent Commission proposal as an important milestone in the promotion of physical activity among Europeans. It builds on the current on-going initiatives. Despite such on-going initiatives the levels of physical inactivity remain particularly high in Europe. According to recent figures approximately two thirds of Europeans never or rarely engage in exercise or participate in sport. Such physical inactivity has may negative effects such as premature mortality, increased levels of obesity and a higher risk of developing cancer (such as breast cancer and colon cancer) and diabetes. Physical inactivity can also have a negative effect on a person’s mental health. With a rapidly ageing society such physical inactivity will result in an increase in economic costs. However, by adopting a coordinated approach at an EU level it may be possible to significantly reduce such costs should the proposal be effectively implemented.

Naturally the promotion of sport and physical activity is mainly a task for the national governments of member states. This is reflected in the proposal which invites member states to develop and implement their own national strategies and action plans to promote physical activity as a means to improve citizens’ health. However, one of the main elements of the Commission’s proposal is designed to assist member states by providing assistance in monitoring national developments and identifying the current trends in physical activity. The Council’s call for proposal advises the introduction of a light EU monitoring framework to support measures taken by member states. The stakeholders and experts involved in the consultation process strongly support the introduction of such a monitoring framework.

This Commission proposal will be discussed by the Council in the coming weeks. There is a strong possibility that the proposal will be adopted by the end of 2013. EU support for the implementation of the proposal will more than likely come from the Erasmus+ for 2014; the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport.