Shaping EU sport

Presidency

France Period: January–June 2022 EU Council: 4 April 2022 Minister responsible: Roxana MARACINEAU, Minister for Sport Sport Working Party Chair: Guillaume ARDUIN

Adopted EU Council Policy Documents

Council Conclusions on Sport and physical activity, a promising lever to transform behaviour for sustainable development. Summary Full text Source

These conclusions emphasise that sport and physical activity are not only beneficial for health and well-being but are also powerful tools for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and the green transition.

Sport stakeholders are encouraged to adopt more sustainable practices — reducing environmental impact, promoting resource efficiency, and embedding sustainability across all levels of sport. Concurrently, citizens are invited to engage in active lifestyles in natural and built environments that support sustainability, inclusion and lifelong physical activity.

Member States are urged to integrate sport and physical activity into public policies aligned with sustainable development, to mobilise cross-sectoral cooperation, and to ensure accessible, safe and inclusive sport environments for all. The European Commission and sport movement are likewise invited to foster knowledge exchange, support green sport initiatives, integrate sustainability criteria into funding and events, and adopt monitoring frameworks to assess ecological and social impact of sport practices.

Policy Debate Topic:

Promoting EU values through sport and the organisation of sport.

Guest speakers: Vadym Huttsait, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraina (via video conference) High-level Structured Dialogue Topic: Leaders, managers, referees, coaches: what measures and public policies to improve the representation of women in the governance of sport? (tbc) Guest speakers: Sarah Keane, Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland, President of the Irish Olympic Committee and member of the European Commission's High Level Group on Gender Equality in Sport (tbc)