Sport is often perceived as a cost to public budgets. Yet investment in sport generates significant returns for individuals, communities and society. Across Europe, National Olympic Committees, federations, clubs and grassroots sports organisations promote healthier lifestyles, strengthen social inclusion, support education and skills development, foster volunteering and active citizenship, generate economic activity and reinforce community resilience.
Sport’s contribution to EU and national policy priorities is evident, yet poorly recognised. In particular, sport supports:
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) should combine dedicated funding for sport with mainstreaming across EU policy and funding programmes. Sport should be clearly visible and eligible in key instruments, in particular Erasmus+, National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) and related sectoral regulations, AgoraEU and the Competitiveness Fund. This would enable the EU, Member States and local authorities to better harness sport’s potential and allow sports organisations to translate European/national priorities in practical action.
By explicitly integrating sport across EU funding programmes and recognising sport organisations as key partners in translating European priorities into concrete action, the next MFF can maximise social impact, strengthen regional development and deliver lasting benefits for citizens and communities across Europe.
The EU’s budget for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 is set at €1.211 trillion, averaging at around €173 billion per year. Accordingly, the European Commission’s Political Guidelines for the legislative session 2019-2024 focus on six thematic headlines:
These priorities manifest themselves through a number of different policy areas, targets, actions, and impacts (including on the sport sector), and are supported through specific funding programmes. Accordingly, the available funding programmes address relevant policy fields through the establishment of more than 40 different programmes supporting Member States and ad-hoc third countries associated with the specific programmes to develop and implement EU and national policies.
Managed by: European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Managed by: European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Managed by: European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Managed by: National Agencies
Managed by: Managing Authorities
Managed by: Managing Authorities
Managed by: Managing Authorities
Managed by: European Health and Digital Executive Agency
Managed by: Directorate General for Justice and Consumers
Managed by: Responsible Executive Agency depends on the specific policy field.
The EOC EU Office published the third edition of its Funding Brochure namely “Funding for Sport in the European Union 2021-2027” in October 2021. The Funding Brochure provides key information, identifies relevant sources of funding opportunities and contains practical tips on how to approach the different stages of a project cycle: from project idea to the real management and implementation of an EU project. Accordingly, it provides a range of examples of projects that were successfully financed by the European Union in previous years. Hence, the Funding Brochure aimed to be a timely and concrete guide to assist European National Olympic Committees (ENOCs) and sport federations in understanding the available opportunities under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027.
The EOC EU Office brochure "Funding for Sport in the European Union 2021-2027" is designed to support European NOCs and therefore is exclusively available to European NOCs and EOC EU Office partners. For more information, please contact us at info@euoffice.eurolympic.org
