Role of EU policies in shaping the European Sport Model
The European Parliament adopted by 552 votes to 52, with 35 abstentions, a resolution on the role of EU policies in shaping the European Sport Model.
The European sport model: serving society and fostering inclusion
Parliament reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending and protecting the European sport model by ensuring the continued sustainable development of sport and physical activity, from grassroots to professional level, and at local, regional, national and European level.
It called on all stakeholders to intensify their efforts to promote safe, inclusive and equitable sport, accessible to all, including persons with disabilities, with a focus on promoting equality between men and women, combating all forms of violence, discrimination and harassment and improving the accessibility of sports infrastructure.
Members highlighted the importance of promoting physical activity among children and young people, particularly through the involvement of athletes as role models. They emphasised the preventive role of sport in combating social isolation, violence, and radicalisation among young people, as well as the crucial role of volunteers in sport.
Serving EU values and solidarity
Parliament stressed the fundamental importance of the principle of solidarity and reaffirmed the need to strengthen the link between professional and grassroots sport through more effective financial solidarity mechanisms.
The Commission is invited to:
- encourage sports governing bodies to implement youth development mechanisms and policies;
- identify and improve existing financial solidarity mechanisms;
- strengthen legal certainty for sports governing bodies;
- develop accessible and substantial financing systems for the benefit of sports clubs and organisations;
- promote consistent standards of financial governance across all professional sports.
The resolution highlighted the need to significantly increase funding for sport and physical activity, particularly within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034.
Recognising the risks of organised and financial crime in sport, Members called for strict due diligence to be ensured with regard to investments and ownership in European sport, including by extending the EU's anti-money laundering framework to professional sport.
Parliament condemned all forms of match-fixing and called on Member States and sports bodies to develop preventive measures by strengthening educational campaigns and cooperation with law enforcement agencies. It also asked the Commission to present a proposal for targeted legislation to address the issue of online piracy of sporting events.
Promoting collective governance and athletes' rights and making fans' voices heard
Parliament called on international, European, and national sports organisations to apply the highest standards of governance, integrity, and transparency, with appropriate checks and balances to ensure accountability. It stressed the importance of ensuring that all institutions, sports governing bodies, and stakeholders comply with the principles established by the CJEU's case law in the field of sport.
Sports governing bodies are called upon to take further steps towards equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly to address the persistent under-representation of women in leadership positions.
The institutions of the Union are invited to:
- protect and promote the fundamental rights of athletes and other workers in the sports sector, including social rights and protection;
- support initiatives related to dual careers, lifelong learning, post-retirement periods, personal development and mental health of athletes.
Given that sporting calendars have become more intense due to the increase in the number of European and international matches and competitions, Members called for the involvement of all stakeholders in decision-making processes relating to these calendars.
EU policy
Parliament called on the Commission to present a long-term strategy on sport and physical activity to build on the strong political momentum provided by Member States and EU institutions, focusing on the key features of the European model of sport, and to present concrete measures in this regard. The Commission is called upon to use all the tools at its disposal to protect the European sports sector from any initiative aimed at undermining it and transferring the value it creates outside Europe.