Sport community consultation shows strong support for reinforcing the European Sport Model
The consultation to help shape a Commission Communication on a strategic vision for sport in Europe highlighted key priorities, including good governance and integrity, solidarity mechanisms and sustainability, and sport’s role in society.
The European Commission is preparing a communication on “A strategic vision for sport in Europe: Reinforcing the European Sport Model”.
This initiative was announced by Commissioner Micallef at the 2025 EU Sport Forum. It aims to tackle the major challenges facing the sport sector. These include financial sustainability and inequalities, governance issues, volunteering decline and inclusion. The goal is to address these challenges through coordinated action at European level.
Consultation stage
Over the past year, the Commission has conducted extensive consultations to define the priorities and scope of this initiative. It engaged with a wide range of stakeholders from across the sector, from grassroots to elite levels, including
- sports federations
- EU representatives of the Olympic movement
- athlete representatives
- fans
- academics
- civil society
- Erasmus+ beneficiaries
- as well as EU institutions and international organisations
The most recent public consultation gathered over 200 responses mostly from NGOs, EU citizens, academics and public authorities.
Close to 80% of respondents expressed support for EU action to safeguard the European sport model.
What we’ve learned
The core priorities emerging from these consultations are
- governance & integrity
While recognising the specificity of sport, stakeholders highlight the need for ‘responsible autonomy’ and high governance standards. - solidarity & sustainability
Ensuring fair revenue distribution for sport’s long-term (financial) sustainability, particularly at grassroots level; and increasing recognition given to volunteering. - sport in and for society
Promoting sport as a public good for health, education and skills, youth development, inclusion and social cohesion, and to support accessibility.
Next steps
Building on these consultations, the Commission will develop its response in a strategic document that is expected to be published by the end of 2026.
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