SUMMARY:

• Today, members of the CULT Committee of the European Parliament officially adopted the draft report of MEP Zdrojewski (EPP, Poland) on “The role of EU policies in shaping the European Sport Model” by 25 votes in favour, 4 against and no abstentions.
• While the final version of the report is not yet available, the majority of adopted amendments strongly reflect FESI’s position and incorporate many of the recommendations we shared with MEPs ahead of the vote, including the call for increased funding for sport (see below for more details).
• The report now needs to be approved by the plenary session in September.

MORE INFORMATION :

Although the final report has not yet been published, it was adopted with the following:

• Adopted amendments : 44 (see here)
• Adopted compromise amendments : Number 1 to 29. The compromise amendments have not been made public but we received them from the Rapporteur’s office (see attached – please treat it as confidential and do not share externally).

Key points from the adopted amendments that align with FESI’s position and prior recommendations include:

• Support a concept of sport and physical activities based on and promoting values such as fairness, solidarity, equality and  inclusiveness
• A strong call for a significant increase in funding for sport and physical activity under the 2028-2034 Erasmus+ programme and for support for further synergies between other programmes and funds.
• Recognition of the cross-sectoral benefits of sport and physical activity
• Emphasis on the need for safe, accessible and inclusive sport infrastructures
• Affirmation that the European Sport Model must be based on the principle of sport as a public good
• Importance of role models to promote sport and PA among children

NEXT STEPS:

• MEPs are expected to vote on this own-initiative report during their September plenary session.
• While the report is non-binding, it will serve as a key input to the European Commission’s “long-term strategy for European sport policy”, expected to be presented next year.
• FESI will continue to remain actively engaged in the consultation process on the future strategy and is already in close contact with the European Commission on this topic. A formal stakeholders’ consultation is expected in September.

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