On 4 and 5 April, the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) organised a visit to Brussels for the participants of its program “Parcours Ambition Internationale”. Created in 2013, this program intends to support, every year, French high representatives in their commitment and activities within European and international sport organisations.

The organisation of three seminars allows the participants to meet and to discuss with actors involved in international sport organisations. In addition, experts from different fields of activities (e.g. communication, economy, lobbying) are involved to the program with the aim to share their experiences, insights and practical advices with the participants.

After two sessions in Paris, respectively dedicated to the functioning of international sport organisations and how to lobby/ negotiate in an international environment, the final seminar aimed at getting more insight into EU sports policy as well as meeting representatives of EU institutions and sports stakeholders. The EOC EU Office provided support to facilitate the visit.

The first day of the program started with a visit of the European Parliament before the group joined the House of European Sport. Three presentations, followed by fruitful discussions, took place during the day. Following a welcome of Folker Hellmund, Head of the EOC EU Office, Valentin Capelli, Policy Officer, presented the activities of the EOC EU Office, the relation of the Olympic Movement with EU institutions as well as several policy fields having an impact on sport including Digital Single Market, Data protection reform or Good Governance.

Then, Mathieu Fonteneau (MFO Consulting, ex EU Commission and CNOSF) provided the participants with a presentation of the financial possibilities existing for sport organisations at the European Level including Erasmus+ Sport and structural funds.

The first day was concluded by a presentation of Alexandre Husting (Luxembourg permanent representation, in charge of sport issues). After an overview of the work done by the Luxembourg presidency of the EU in the second part of 2015, Alexandre Husting detailed the functioning of the EU institutions and insisted on the way to develop a successful lobbying strategy at the EU level.

The second day was dedicated to meetings with EU Institutions. The group has been welcomed to the European Commission, for a presentation and a discussion with Yves Le Lostecque, head of Sport Unit before a meeting with the Spanish MEP Santiago Fisas (EPP), co-president of the intergroup sport of the European Parliament.