Profile

An Vermeersch holds an MS in Law (1998), an MS in European Law (1999) and a Ph.D. in Law (2008, EU sports policy and sports law). Since 2009 she’s a visiting professor of sports law in the Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law at Ghent University. She teaches sports law at Ghent University and European law at Ghent University College.

An is an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS, General list and Football list, since mid 2023) and a disciplinary judge at the integrity chamber of the Flemish Sports Tribunal (since 2021). An is co-founder of “Sport&EU”, the Association for the study of Sport and the European Union (2005) and member of the editorial board of ‘Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal’ and ‘Voetbal- & Sportjuridische Zaken’.

Previous positions: arbitrator at the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (2021-2023), disciplinary judge at the doping chamber of the Flemish Sports Tribunal (2023-mid 2023), arbitrator at the Centre for Sports Arbitration of CEPANI (2022-mid 2023), member of the Working Group on the Review of WADA Governance Reform (Nov 2020-May 2022), independent board member at the Flemish Tennis Federation (2018-mid 2023), member of the Belgian national platform match-fixing (2016-2020) and member of the Flemish disciplinary body on anti-doping (2007-2009).   

In the past she has been advising the Flemish minister for sport on various topics, in particular in relation to governance, ethics, EU sports policy and anti-doping (2000-2001 and 2011-2020). In that capacity she acted as Deputy member of the WADA Foundation Board (2013-2019). During the Belgian 2010 EU Presidency she worked as a project manager sport and chaired the EU Working Party on Sport.

Photo: An Vermeersch private collection

How were you selected to serve as Chair of the WPS, and in what ways did your prior experience contribute to your role during the Belgian Presidency?

In the context of the Belgian EU Presidency for Sport (with Flanders taking the lead as the responsible Community within Belgium), several additional staff members were recruited within the Flemish sports administration. Astrid Vervaet, who had already been working in the administration for several years and also served as Sport Attaché, identified the staffing needs at the time. Together with the Secretary-General and with the support of an external recruitment agency, she set up a selection procedure. I myself was recruited in 2009 as Project Manager for the EU Presidency in the field of sport. This role also included chairing the Council Working Party on Sport. The fact that I already had experience with the Belgian EU Presidency for Sport in 2001 - when I served as an advisor to the then Flemish Minister for Sport - combined with my PhD research on EU sports law and policy, contributed significantly to my selection. Even though I chaired the Council working group, I believe most will still remember the Belgian Presidency as a strong team effort, with Astrid and myself leading it as a driving duo.

Which preparations, activities, or support systems contributed most to the success of your WPS Chairmanship during the Belgian Presidency?

A combination of many factors: the fact that a dedicated project team for sport was set up within Flanders; the various training sessions organised by the BE Presidency; the good cooperation with the French- and German-speaking Communities, the Member States, the sports sector, the Council Secretariat and the Commission. Specifically regarding the meetings of the Council Working Party, the support of the Council Secretariat, the Belgian Perm Rep and the example set by Jan Vanhee - who, drawing on his experience within the Council Working Party on Youth, shared many valuable tips - were key factors.

Looking back, what motivated you to take on the WPS Chair, and in what ways did the experience influence your professional career?

The Presidency came at the right moment in my career: I had just completed my PhD and was eager to return to practice and policymaking. Thanks to the good cooperation with Minister Muyters during the Presidency, I subsequently joined his cabinet as an advisor. 

What do you consider the most significant achievements of EU sports policy, and how successful has the EU been in advancing sport at the European level?

Over the past 15 years, key achievements in EU sports policy include the formal recognition of sport in the Lisbon Treaty, the establishment of Erasmus+ Sport funding, and strengthened cooperation on integrity and good governance in sport. Overall, the EU’s work in sport has been a success in raising the profile of sport at EU level, though with limited legislative power.

What do you consider the highlight of your presidency, particularly in light of sport becoming a formal EU competence in 2009?

Given that sport only became a formal EU competence at the end of 2009, I believe the greatest achievement of the 2010 Belgian Presidency was getting the Council Working Party up and running and organising the Council meeting with the adoption of a number of Council documents.

How would you describe your cooperation with the European Commission, the Council Secretariat, and your Presidency Trio partners during your WPS Chairmanship?

My cooperation with the European Commission was very positive. We worked closely on preparing Council documents and coordinated on several joint activities, including the EU Sport Forum, and their guidance was invaluable throughout the presidency. Equally important was the excellent support from the Council Secretariat - particularly Kari Tollikki and Nick Platten - who provided continuous guidance and efficiently coordinated meetings, making the work much smoother.

I am also pleased with the strong collaboration within the Presidency Trio. Working alongside the Czech and Spanish Presidencies, we met regularly to align priorities and share best practices, ensuring continuity and coherence across the trio.

Which key policy documents and initiatives were prepared or adopted during your presidency, and how did they contribute to EU sports policy?

During the 2010 Belgian Presidency, a number of important policy documents were prepared and adopted, highlighting the EU’s priorities in sport. Among the key outcomes were the Council Conclusions on the role of the EU in the international fight against doping, the Council Resolution of 18 November 2010 on the EU structured dialogue on sport, and the Council Conclusions on sport as a source of and driver for active social inclusion.

Beyond these formal documents, we also produced discussion papers, structured dialogue contributions, and expert group outcomes, which played an important role in guiding policy development and fostering cooperation between Member States. These documents reflected both the strategic priorities of the presidency and the collaborative spirit of the Working Party on Sport.

Looking back, what do you consider the main outcomes and lasting impact of your presidency, both at the EU and national level? 

As already mentioned, the fact that we took the first steps within the Council in the field of sport is perhaps just as important as the documents that were adopted. In that context, I believe we were able to make an initial contribution to two institutionally important aspects of EU sports policy: the EU’s representation within WADA and the structured dialogue with stakeholders.

Photo: An Vermeersch private collection