SPORT: EU FREEZES SUPPORT FOR ANTI-DOPING AGENCY.

Two reasons explain the reluctance in Europe to finance WADA: a =representation would be required therefore providing insufficient EU =control inside the WADA, in the absence of conformity in conditions for =financing the agency in EU law as well as a slow delay in adopting EU =Acts. Mrs Reding said that the EU pays almost half (47.5%) of the =financing of public authorities. This would not be reflected in the =composition of the Council of the Agency, which is only sparingly =represented with Europeans. Amending the Statutes of the Agency is =therefore the only way there will be any EU contribution in the 2002 =operating budget, she said. According to the inter-institutional =agreement on budgetary discipline, EU financing of WADA's operating =budget involves first and foremost a Commission proposal, followed by an =adoption from the Parliament and the Council. The Commissioner said that =she would avoid presenting any Commission proposal that would risk =setting off a Council debate on the legitimacy of such financing in the =present climate. "The ball is now in the Agency's court, and we will =have a reply at the WADA Council meeting in Lausanne on December 3," she =said.Mrs Reding said that it was up to the EU and Council of Europe to find =the formulae for Europe's financial input. Ministers...