European Parliament backs a bigger role for sport in Erasmus+: now it’s the Council’s turn 

Sport and Citizenship welcomes the Parliament’s mandate for the Erasmus+ 2028-2034 negotiations 

Brussels, 22/10/2026 – The European Parliament has adopted its position on the future Erasmus+ programme, with 454 votes in favour. Sport and Citizenship warmly welcomes this result, which gives the Parliament a solid mandate for the upcoming trilogue. 

Our congratulations go to Rapporteur Bogdan Zdrojewski for his work on this file, and all the shadow rapporteurs, whose cooperation shows that Erasmus+ is a flagship programme of the European Union that unites beyond political borders. 

Recognising the role and power of sport 

By adopting this position, the Parliament recognises what sport brings to Europe. It calls for 4.1% of the Erasmus+ budget to be dedicated to sport, up from 1.9% today, within an overall envelope of €47.39 billion, compared with the €40.8 billion put forward by the European Commission. 

Together with 116 other organisations from across the sport and physical activity movement, we signed a joint statement setting out the sector’s priorities for the next EU budget and the future of Erasmus+. We are pleased that the sector’s voice was heard in Parliament, and that many of these priorities are reflected in the adopted position: 

• A distinct identity for sport. A dedicated allocation, rather than sport being absorbed into a broader line shared with youth, answers our call to avoid dilution under broader horizontal priorities. 

• Balanced governance. By keeping key decisions under parliamentary scrutiny rather than shifting them to Commission work programmes, the Parliament supports the strong EU-level coordination we called for alongside decentralised implementation. 

• Mainstreaming of sport. By emphasising the alignment and synergies with other EU programmes such as the European Competitiveness Fund, Horizon Europe, Global Europe, and National and Regional Partnership funds.  

• Simpler, more accessible funding. The emphasis on a simpler, more predictable programme that reaches people with fewer opportunities responds to the barriers that local clubs, NGOs and grassroots organisations still face. 

This is a significant step towards giving sport a clear, visible and predictable place in the programme, but it is not the end of the road. Our joint statement called for at least 5% of Erasmus+ to be dedicated to sport, and we will keep making that case in the months ahead. 

Read the joint statement: https://fesi-sport.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MFF-sport-joint-statement-December-2025.pdf   

Why a strong budget for sport is a smart investment 

Investing in sport is a choice that pays off. The sector already accounts for around 3.4% of EU GDP, or EUR 627.5 billion, and 6.05 million jobs. Behind these numbers are the clubs, coaches and volunteers who keep communities active and connected. 

The benefits go well beyond the economy. A more active population is a healthier one, and that eases the pressure on health systems and public finances. According to the WHO and the OECD, bringing physical activity up to recommended levels would save the EU nearly EUR 8 billion in healthcare costs alone, with an average return of EUR 1.70 for every EUR 1 invested. For a Union looking at its next long-term budget, that is a smart investment. 

Sport also does something few other sectors can do, it touches almost every area of public policy. Indeed, it supports health, education and employment, builds social inclusion and equality, and carries European values such as solidarity and peace into everyday life. This is why we believe that seeing sport clearly recognised in the next EU long-term budget is key to unlocking its full potential. 

Next steps 

With this vote, the Parliament enters the inter-institutional negotiations from a strong position. We now call on the Council, which adopted its position in May 2026, to take the Parliament’s position into account, in particular on the financial aspects of the file, and we hope to reach a satisfactory outcome in the trilogue.