Shaping EU sport

Presidency

Finland Period: July–December 2019 EU Council: 21 November 2019 Minister responsible: Hanna KOSONEN, Minister for Science and Culture Sport Working Party Chair: Heidi SULANDER

Adopted EU Council Policy Documents

Council Conclusions on Safeguarding children in sport. Summary Full text Source

The Council conclusions of 21 November 2019 highlight the importance of safeguarding children in sport to ensure that every child can participate in a safe, respectful and supportive environment. They recognise that while sport offers major physical, social and educational benefits, cases of abuse, violence and neglect have shown the need for stronger preventive and protective measures across Europe.

Member States are urged to strengthen national legal and policy frameworks, raise awareness, and train coaches, teachers and volunteers to identify and prevent all forms of violence against children in sport. They are also encouraged to develop codes of conduct, conduct background checks, establish safe reporting mechanisms and ensure that public funding for sport supports organisations with strong safeguarding standards.

The European Commission and Member States are invited to collect data, share good practices, and promote cooperation among sport organisations, public authorities and child-protection bodies — ensuring that sport is always a safe space for every child.

Council Conclusions on Combating corruption in sport. Summary Full text Source

The Council conclusions focus on strengthening integrity and preventing corruption in sport, recognising that corruption — including match-fixing, bribery, money laundering and abuse of power — undermines fairness, public trust and the educational and social value of sport. With the increasing commercialisation of sport and the complexity of financial transactions, corruption has become a significant cross-border challenge requiring coordinated action.

Member States are encouraged to reinforce national legislation, enhance cooperation among law enforcement, judicial and sport bodies, and improve transparency and accountability in sport governance. They are also invited to ensure that public funding to sport organisations is linked to good governance and anti-corruption standards.

The European Commission and Member States are urged to strengthen data collection, research and information exchange, while sports organisations should adopt codes of ethics, internal controls and effective disciplinary procedures. The overall goal is to uphold sport’s integrity and public confidence.

Policy Debate Topic: Promoting Good Governance in Sport. Guest speakers: Witold Banka, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), former Sports Minister of Poland Background paper