Decision (EU) 2019/683 authorising Member States to become parties to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events

Summary:

Council Decision of 9 April 2019  authorising Member States to become parties, in the interest of the European Union, to the Council of Europe Convention ETS No 218.

Background and further information:

On 29 May 1985, 39 people were killed and hundreds injured during violent confrontations between football fans at the European Cup final at the Heysel stadium in Brussels. In the wake of that disaster, the Council of Europe drew up the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches (Convention 120). The Convention focused on preventing, deterring and responding to incidents of violence and misbehaviour inside or within the vicinity of stadiums. Convention 120 entered into force in November 1985 and has been ratified by 41 Parties, including most Member States of the European Union.

In December 2013, the Council of Europe concluded, in the light of a study on the merits and desirability of updating Convention 120, that the latter had become outdated: its content – in particular the primary emphasis on security measures – was found to be inconsistent with experience and good practices and out of step with more recent recommendations of the Convention’s Standing Committee. Rather than revising Convention 120, the Standing Committee decided to work on a new text. That work resulted in Convention 218.

Given that the EU itself cannot become a party to Convention 218, and since the Member States may become a party to the Convention only if so empowered by the EU, it is appropriate to adopt a decision authorising the Member States to sign and ratify the Convention in the interest of the EU.

• Primary Source

Official

EUR-Lex: COM(2018)247: Proposal for a Decision authorising Member States to become party to the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security, and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2018:247:FIN

---

ESO Records

Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-of-europe-convention-on-an-integrated-safety-security-and-service-approach-at-football-matches-and-other-sports-events/

---