On 24 and 25 March, members of the EOC European Union and International Relations Commission convened in Brussels for their first in-person meeting, hosted by the EOC EU Office and the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee. The session opened with an exchange with EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef, setting a positive tone for the discussions ahead and laying the groundwork for a promising ongoing relationship.

The following day, the Commission exchanged on the current geopolitical context, and the role of sport therein. Participants received a presentation from the EOC EU Office on current funding opportunities for sport, and upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, and discussed the Commission’s role in the upcoming MFF negotiations. The EOC EU Office also provided a brief overview of relevant legal cases and developments to monitor, before presenting its work on athletes’ rights, which sparked lively discussions and an exchange of good practices and recommendations to be shared with EU institutions. Overall, the meeting is expected to translate into concrete future action and greater Commission involvement in strengthening the place of sport in EU policy.