ECONOMIC FREEDOMS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION REGARDING SPORT ORGANISATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

The EU Single Market is the foundation of the EU; its continuous growth and development is reflected in the well-being and living standards of Member States. The internal market of the Union is based on four fundamental freedoms, respectively, the free movement of goods, free movement of workers, freedom of movement of capital and freedom to provide services among Member States. Regarding the mentioned regularities in the context of sports all actors involved in any of the competitions organized by national sports associations must ensure freedom of movement without obstructions and restrictions based on citizenship of any other Member State. Freedom of movement for workers refers to athletes as for financial compensation, performing services in accordance with their profession. The EU Member States are obliged to harmonize their legal system with the acquis communautaire of the EU. Likewise, other organizations such as sports organizations, associations and clubs are obliged to do the same, taking the EU law as a basis and all laws on subsidiary levels must be harmonized with the EU law. The fact that sports organizations, associations and clubs still haven't adjusted their rights and decisions to EU laws strikes an alarm. This allows us to conclude that their autonomy has been above the framework of their own powers and that space for potential legal disputes has emerged. Taking the autonomy of sports organizations and their obligations into account, all based on legal arguments, it is evident that there is a gap in decision making, which thereby makes it obvious that an unacceptable form of discrimination exists. The delicate issue of sports law, interrelated with the new legal order, leaves a considerable area of research and study of increasing influence of sport as an indispensable social component.