The UK will miss out on the possible effects of a groundbreaking resolution passed by the European Union (EU), which could help lift esports across Europe.
EU legislative body the European Parliament voted to pass the resolution a few days ago, and legislators will now look at carrying it out.
The esports and video games resolution – which can be read on the European Parliament website in full – is a comprehensive resolution that covers a lot of areas.
For example, it talks about providing greater funding for the video games sector, as well as many positives of esports and video games, such as cultural impact, player wellbeing, accessibility and more.
“Any future EU legislation aimed at encouraging the esports and gaming industries will have no effect in the UK. Of course it is still open to the UK Government to independently take steps to support those industries. It would be prudent for it to do so, if we are to keep pace with our European neighbours.”
Nick Williams, Morgan Sports Law
The resolution also stressed the importance of greater safeguarding, fair contracts and workers’ rights, the upskilling of teachers of video games, and reliable data to track the esports and video games sectors in Europe.
But as the UK is no longer part of the EU due to Brexit, it looks to miss out on all of this.
Nick Williams, barrister at Morgan Sports Law, told Esports News UK: “The European Parliament is the directly elected legislative body of the European Union. When it passes a non-legislative resolution, it is a call to action on a particular topic – in this case on the value and significance of gaming and esports in Europe. EU legislators will now look towards implementing that resolution by formulating appropriate legislation.
“When the UK left the European Union it vacated its seats in the European Parliament. Any future EU legislation aimed at encouraging the esports and gaming industries will have no effect in the UK. Of course it is still open to the UK Government to independently take steps to support those industries. It would be prudent for it to do so, if we are to keep pace with our European neighbours.”
Grant Rousseau, director of esports and operations at Team Falcons, also recently commented:
Does the UK fall under this at all?
— Grant Rousseau (@GrantRous) November 11, 2022
My assumption is No…
in which case this legislation will put us futher behind now within EU unless we start to actually see action from our government on what esports can bring towards country growth and GDP
An incredible day for EU though! https://t.co/QSKPfw5ltN
One source with knowledge close to the situation told Esports News UK: “Indirectly, [this resolution] could have repercussions [on the UK].
“[For example] If subsequent analysis of the ecosystem (that the Commission is doing right now) showed that there are a lot of economic links between the UK’s esports scene and that of the rest of the continent, which is actually the case.”
Sergi Mesonero, head of ISFE Esports at the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), told Esports News UK: “When compared to other sectors, esports have a particularly thriving and interconnected pan-European ecosystem. This, of course, includes the United Kingdom, which maintains its position as the headquarters for video game companies, tournament organisers, and team organisations that operate on a pan-continental and global scale.
“In turn, continental esports stakeholders continue to do business in the UK. These flows enable growth and enable companies in the region to compete with global stakeholders in North America and China.”
ISFE and the European Games Developer Foundation (EGDF) also welcomed the news in a joint statement.
ISFE and EGDF said: “We, at ISFE and EGDF, are pleased to see this in-depth look at our sector which recognises the value of IP, the role of Europe’s video games industry in the creative economy, the many benefits of video gameplay and our long-standing best-in-class minor protection system, which enables everyone to engage in responsible gameplay.
“We particularly welcome the concrete measures proposed on funding for SMEs, including modernisation of the General Block Exemption Regulation, a proposal for a European Strategy for IP in video games, and proposals to address the digital skills gap and how to promote the use of video games in schools.”
ISFE and EGDF
“We also welcome the recognition by the Parliament that esports and sports are two distinct sectors, esports being an example of how the video game sector is innovating with licencing.
“We call on Europe’s political leaders to advance these concrete proposals to help create the conditions for European leadership in video game innovation and creation and we look forward to continuing the dialogue about the future of Europe’s video games and esports.”
560 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favour of the resolution, 34 voted against it and 16 abstained.
French MEP Laurence Farreng led the resolution.
Of course, the UK Government is free to instil its own type of esports strategy.
Related article: What can the UK Government do to better support esports? We interview Shadow Culture Minister Alex Davies-Jones
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
