Europeanizing the Social Aspects of the Greek Sport Policy

In: Journal of sport and social issues: the official journal of Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, Band 36, Heft 2, S. 195-222

Abstract

European policy has many implications on the formation of national policy and decision-making process. Although European Union has no direct competence in the area of sport, its value-added is apparent in the promotion of sport-related activities and the exchange of good practice, influencing sport policy in the member states. The aim of this article is to explore the impact of the European Union on Greek sport policy making. Focusing on the social dimension of sport, this article argues that the Europeanization of Greek sport policy is limited because of its reliance on weak and indirect mechanisms. Yet it perceives a kind of a selective adoption of EU initiatives and recommendations for Greece to accomplish particular goals and meet national priorities. One of the benefits of this interaction is that Greece has slowly entered into a "learning" process where EU provides a platform for sport-related policy transfer and exchange of ideas among member states.