Europe

Since the Lisbon Treaty went into effect in 2009, the European Union gained the authority to take supportive action  and implement activities which seek to support, coordinate or complement actions of Member States in the sports domaine. (Article 6 TFEU)

This competence is flexible, meaning that it is not imposed upon Member States of the EU. The EU’s action aims, above all, to develop “the European dimension in sport, by promoting fairness and openness in sporting competitions and cooperation between bodies responsible for sport, and by protecting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen, especially the youngest sportsmen and sportswomen” in accordance with the terms of Article165 of the TFEU.

Working Plan for 2014-2017

In 2011, the Euopean Union equipped itself with the first three-year Work Plan for the promotion of sport (2011-2014), which was introduced to identify the European Union’s political priorities in this area. A second EU Work Plan in favour of sport was adopted for the 2014-2017 period whose priorities are sport integrity (fight against doping and the manipulation of sports competitions, protection of minors, good governance, gender equality), the economic dimension of sport (sustainable funding for sport, legacy of major sporting events, economic advantages of sport, innovation) and the links between ‘Sport and Society’ (promoting physical activity as a development tool for health, volunteering, employement, education and training)

The Erasmus+ Sport Programme 

Upon the adoption of the new longterm budgetary framework for 2014-2020, the European Union gave itself a working European programme called Erasmus+ that includes a ‘Sport’ segment from now on. Through different project proposals, the Union now provides financial support for European projects carried out in the sports domain.

For more information, please consult our European financial guide.

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