According to a written declaration signed by 399 MEPs, corruption in sport is a serious problem that should be tackled at an EU level. The MEPs are calling for a large-scale study on corruption in European sport, focusing especially on links between organised crime and illegal betting, sport agents, referees, club officials, sportsmen.

Following the Lisbon Treaty, sport is an EU competence. Actually, the first formal meeting of the European Sports ministers took place in May 2010. According to MEPs, the European Commission should regulate online betting in order to combat match fixing and ensure fairness in sport. One of the authors of the written declaration, Tadeusz Zwiefka highlighted that it is not only about fairness, but also about fixers' connections with organised crime. He also added that this issue has to be tackled on the European level because the problem exists not only in one or two member states, but in many countries.

In addition, MEPs are scheduled to discuss a report on the European dimension in sport during the November plenary. The report will focus on the fight against doping, racism, fraud, match fixing and the promotion of voluntary activity in sport, the protection of minors and environmental protection.

A written declaration is a text of 200 words maximum, on a matter falling within the EU's sphere of activities. If at least half of the MEPs (368) signs the declaration, it is adopted and forwarded to the institutions. So far, this term 19 written declarations have been adopted.