2007 - Lisbon Treaty.

The EU gained responsibilities for sport under the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into effect in December 2009 (adopted in 2007). The EU is now responsible for developing evidence-based policy, fostering cooperation and managing initiatives to support physical activity and sport across Europe. Source and more information here.

Article 165. Article 165 states that “The Union shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity. The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function”. Source.

Supplementary and supporting. Just like the areas of Education, Youth, and Culture, Sport is under the exclusive competence of the European Union Member States. Thus, the EU’s role as stated by Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is to encourage “cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States”. Source.

EU Work Plan for Sport. The EU Work Plan for Sport (2024-2027) establishes the framework for EU priorities and activities within the sport sector. Previous editions included European Union Work Plans for Sport 2011-2014, 2014-2017, 2017-2020 and 2021-2024. Source.

All the above are correct. The three main priorities within EU’s sport policy are (1) integrity and values in sport, (2) socio-economic and sustainable dimensions of sport, and (3) participation in sport and promotion of health-enhancing physical activity. Managing professional leagues is a central role of Sport Federations. Source.

Erasmus+. Amongst other references, the wording on the Erasmus+ regulation mentions “The Programme should be equipped to become an even greater contributor to the implementation of the Union’s policy objectives and priorities in the fields of education and training, youth and sport”. Source.

Laying the foundation for EU-level sport policy. The wording of the White Paper on Sport specifically details that such document “marks the first time that the [European] Commission is addressing sport-related issues in a comprehensive manner. Its overall objective is to give strategic orientation on the role of sport in Europe, to encourage debate on specific problems, to enhance the visibility of sport in EU policy-making and to raise public awareness of the needs and specificities of the sector. The initiative aims to illustrate important issues such as the application of EU law to sport. It also seeks to set out further sports-related action at EU level”. Source.

By funding collaborative partnerships and non-profit sport events. Erasmus+ currently has 4 types of actions available for funding: (1) Cooperation partnerships; (2) Small-scale partnerships; (3) Not-for-profit European sport events; and (4) Capacity-building in the field of sport. Click here to know the specific targets and objectives of each action.

All the above. Other than Erasmus+, other EU initiatives/actions to promote EU sport policy objectives are: #BeActive awards; #BeInclusive Sport Awards; EU Sport Forum; European Week of Sport; Erasmus+ Sport Info Day; SHARE initiative. Get to know more details about each initiative here.

Eurobarometer on sport and physical activity. The EU publishes the “Eurobarometer on sport and physical activity”, which is currently in its fifth edition (2022). The research provides a picture of the physical activity levels of the EU’s population.