EU Sports Commissioner Jan Figel is due to release his proposals which are expected to include ideas for combating doping and racism. But attention is expected to focus on where the EU's executive arm draws the line between the application of European laws and sports federations' demands to set their own rules.
According to leaked drafts, the European Commission is expected to recognise the special nature of sport, but insist that federations and clubs cannot be given a blanket exemption from EU regulations.
The white paper is not a legally binding document, but is designed to provoke debate with federations, national governments and lawmakers in the sector.
