European Parliament includes sport in positions on future funding

European Parliament includes sport in positions on future funding

During one of its last plenary sessions before the May elections, the European Parliament has adopted four important reports outlining its position to future EU funding programmes beyond 2021. In its votes on 26, 27 and 28 March 2019 the EP agreed its negotiating position on the future of Erasmus+, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and two funding instruments in the EU’s external relations – the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III (IPA III) covering the EU accessions countries and the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), which brings together several current programmes targeting both geographical regions (including Eastern Europe) and thematic areas (e.g. support to human rights). The EOC EU Office has made a considerable effort to actively engage with Members of the European Parliament regarding these reports in order include clear mentions for sport. Due to this work with the EP, several positive sport-related amendments in thematic priorities have been achieved.

Erasmus+

The adopted position of the EP in regard to Erasmus+ can be deemed positive for the European sport movement. The Parliament is proposing to triple the budget of Erasmus+ (the European Commission had proposed doubling the funds) and included mobility activities for “young people practising, andsport staff engaged in, grassroots sport” as well as “not-for-profit grassroots sport events, including small-scale events”. The EP also seeks to open the possibility for international mobility in sport.

IPA III

The EP’s position on the IPA III proposal includes sport-related amendments in thematic priorities for both general assistance and assistance for cross-border cooperation. The EP stresses, for example, that “access to lifelong learning and physical activity should be strengthened” and “investment in education and training and sport infrastructure particularly with a view to reducing territorial disparities and fostering non-segregated education and including through the use of digital technologies should be supported.”

NDICI

However, the NDICI report is even more supportive to the role of sport in external affairs. MEPs have included 5 sport-related articles in the final text, including a reference to sport among the European Neighbourhood area objectives. In the “areas of cooperation”, the EP’s report goes even further (on the proposal of the EOC EU Office: “Supporting actions, and promoting cooperation, in the area of sport to contribute to the empowerment of women, young people, individuals and communities as well as to the health, education and social inclusion objectives of the 2030 Agenda.”

ERDF

The European Parliament’s position on the European Regional Development Fund includes sport in three aspects of the specific objectives (Art. 2):

“improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and life long learning and sport through developing accessible infrastructure and services;”

“fostering integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism also through the tourist districts, sports and security in urban areas, including functional urban areas;”

“fostering integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism also through the tourist districts, sports and security, all at local level, rural, mountain, islands and coastal regions, isolated and sparsely populated and all other areas that have difficulty accessing basic services including also on NUTS 3 level, through territorial and local development strategies, […].”

Next Steps

The EP’s reports form the first part of the legislative process at the end of which the respective regulations establishing the new funding instruments will be adopted. The ball is now on the side of the Council of the EU to agree its position, which will then be confronted with the EP’s one and with the European Commission’s original proposal during the so-called Trialogue.

While the Council has already reached its agreement – General Partial Approach – on the IPA III, it is yet to agree its position on the NDICI. Regarding Erasmus+, the ministers reached an agreement on a partial general approach, which excludes budget-related issues and figures, on 26 November 2018. The Romanian Presidency also agreed a new compromise text on ERDF and Cohesion Fund in January.

The EOC EU Office will keep closely following the process and will do its best to support the EP’s position and with it the sport-related articles.

Recent Posts

Positioning the European Olympic Movement in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034

On 24 April, the EOC EU Office held an online exchange with partner organisations and representatives of the EU 27 NOCs on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, discussing key priorities for organised sport to be recognised by EU institutions during the preparation of the forthcoming MFF. Ensuring prompt discussion and advocacy remains essential for the […]

Read More
OCEAN Final Conference: The start of a movement for climate action in sport

The EOC EU Office is delighted to invite you to the OCEAN Project Final Conference: Reducing sport organisations' carbon footprint: Understanding our impact and acting for change, taking place on 13 May in a hybrid format in Brussels and online. After 2.5 years of trainings, discussions and concrete initiatives, Climate Action Officers from 18 National […]

Read More
Monthly Report Highlight - European Sport Model: European Parliament gathers sport stakeholders to discuss the model’s future

On 18 March 2025, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office participated in a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue hosted by the European Parliament to discuss its upcoming own-initiative report on the “Role of EU Policies in Shaping the European Sport Model (ESM)”. The event, moderated by the rapporteur, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Bogdan Zdrojewski […]

Read More

Related Posts

April 25, 2025
Positioning the European Olympic Movement in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034

On 24 April, the EOC EU Office held an online exchange with partner organisations and representatives of the EU 27 NOCs on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, discussing key priorities for organised sport to be recognised by EU institutions during the preparation of the forthcoming MFF. Ensuring prompt discussion and advocacy remains essential for the […]

April 18, 2025
OCEAN Final Conference: The start of a movement for climate action in sport

The EOC EU Office is delighted to invite you to the OCEAN Project Final Conference: Reducing sport organisations' carbon footprint: Understanding our impact and acting for change, taking place on 13 May in a hybrid format in Brussels and online. After 2.5 years of trainings, discussions and concrete initiatives, Climate Action Officers from 18 National […]

April 16, 2025
Monthly Report Highlight - European Sport Model: European Parliament gathers sport stakeholders to discuss the model’s future

On 18 March 2025, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office participated in a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue hosted by the European Parliament to discuss its upcoming own-initiative report on the “Role of EU Policies in Shaping the European Sport Model (ESM)”. The event, moderated by the rapporteur, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Bogdan Zdrojewski […]

About us

The EOC EU Office is the House of European Sport, representing the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the IOC and other major sport organisations to the European institutions in Brussels.
CONTACT
crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram