On 14 February, the European Commission published its analysis of the EU Work Plan for Sport 2021-2024, in anticipation of the next plan 2024-2027, currently under discussion under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
This assessment, supported by 72 responses from various stakeholders, including Member States and sports organisations, aims to strengthen a collective approach to sport in Europe. It examines the implementation of the recommendation on health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), supported by WHO data and a network of national correspondents.
The report stresses the importance of the integrity, values, socio-economic and environmental aspects of sport, promoting participation and physical activity.
It also stresses the importance of the European sporting model and the need to combat doping and corruption and promote good governance. It also calls for gender equality and inclusion, as well as the environmental and economic sustainability of sport.
Among the achievements reported, the ‘HealthyLifestyle4All’ campaign has generated 102 commitments, while the Erasmus+ ‘Sport’ budget has been doubled to €470 million, with a 17% increase in the number of proposals in 2023 compared to 2022. European Week of Sport, for its part, has attracted more than 13 million participants in 2022 and almost 11 million at 36,000 events in 2023.
In addition, 44% of respondents fully support the orientations of the plan, reflecting the EU’s commitment to sport as a vehicle for change, in the areas of innovation, sustainability and inclusion.
See the report and appendices: https://aeur.eu/f/b21 ; https://aeur.eu/f/b22 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)