Tourism used to be an exclusive competence of the Member States until the Lisbon Treaty entry into force. Tourism has now become a new EU competence. The Lisbon Treaty added tourism to the areas where the Union has competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States. Article 195 TFEU is a new legal basis to this effect. It states “The Union shall complement the action of the Member States in the tourism sector, in particular by promoting the competitiveness of Union undertakings in that sector.” The European Parliament and the Council through the ordinary legislative procedure (codecision) shall adopt measures to complement Member States action in order to achieve competitiveness of Union undertakings in tourism. Such measures are adopted in the Council by a QMV. In this way, the EU will interfere in the UK tourism policy.

It would not take long for the EU exercise its new powers, in fact, the EU Member States’ Tourism Ministers approved on 15 April the so called “Madrid Declaration” calling upon the European Commission to present “a consolidated framework for the EU Tourism policy.” Unsurprisingly, the European Commission will present by the end of the year a “Communication on the EU's new tourist policy framework.” Miguel Sebastián, the Spanish Industry, Tourism and Trade Minister, has said that the Madrid Declaration is “a first step in the commitment of the EU and all member states to sustainable, modern and socially responsible tourism.”

At their first informal meeting, after the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU tourism ministers made several recommendations to the European Commission to implement a European tourism policy.

Although the Community had no direct tourism competence, several initiatives relating to tourism have been supported through EU programmes, funding, mainly, through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. The Tourism Ministers asked the Commission to ensure that tourism will be taken into account in the main EU financial instruments such as structural funds. Presently, there is no EU budget line specific for the support and coordination of tourism activities, but according to the ministers, tourism should have its own budget line. They invited the Commission to consider “a coherent and comprehensive financial framework for tourism.”

The EU tourism ministers have also shown their willingness “to support measures and initiatives encouraging the lengthening of the high season in tourism” aiming at “contributing to reduce seasonality and to maintain tourist employment in off-season.” They also endorsed the idea of “Facilitating the access to holidays to groups with impaired mobility or those who are socially and/or economically disadvantaged (…)” Miguel Sebastián has stressed that “The European Union commits to social tourism.” The Commission is already planning to put in place an "Erasmus for tourists.” According to Euractiv a Commission official has said that "Young people, over-65s and persons with reduced mobility or low income will receive financial support to go on holiday in low-season periods.” It is important to mentioned that in 2009 the European Commission launched “a preparatory action on social tourism”, the so called CALYPSO to promote social tourism initiatives in the EU. Such project will run for “at least three years” and it had EUR 1,000,000 budget allocated just in 2009. The project is aiming at promoting tourism during off peak season whilst enabling target groups including seniors and pensioners, youths, disabled persons, and families in difficulties, through tourism exchanges, to go on holiday in other Member States on the basis of “themed programmes” and “accommodation offers coordinated by Member States authorities.”

It remains to be seen how much the “social tourism” will cost taxpayers.

Moreover, the tourism ministers are keen on promoting, as Mr Sebastián said, “the Europe brand” abroad. They called upon the Commission to consider “joint actions”, including tourism partnerships, to reinforce “Europe´s image and visibility in the main third countries” such as China, Brazil, Russia and India. The Spanish minister has pointed out that, in this case, a new visa policy might be necessary.