11/06/2026
Last week, EuropeActive was proud to attend “The Enabling Role of Sport to Achieve EU Objectives and Future Support via the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034”, co-hosted by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office and the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels.
The discussions delivered a clear message: sport and physical activity are not "nice-to-have" policies, but strategic investments in Europe's future. To fully realise their potential, they must be integrated across the next MFF and the broader EU policy framework.
A sincere thank you to the EOC EU Office and the European Committee of the Regions for organising such a timely and important discussion, and to all speakers and policymakers - including Georg Häusler, MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski, MEP Marcos Ros Sempere and MEP Sabrina Repp - for their commitment to recognising sport and physical activity as powerful tools for social inclusion, health and wellbeing.
Key takeaways from the event:
🔹 Georg Häusler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport at DG EAC, highlighted the economic value of sport, stating:
"Investment in sport is investment in competitiveness. Sport is not a cost; it is an investment."
🔹 Annamarie Phelps, Member of the EOC Executive Committee, defined sport as “ the most underutilised tools for social change”
🔹 MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski, Rapporteur on Erasmus+, stressed the importance of reducing exclusion in sport and physical activity access and participation.
🔹 Participants repeatedly highlighted the cross-sectoral contribution of sport and physical activity, demonstrating how they support key European priorities, including health, education, social inclusion, sustainability, regional development and competitiveness.
🔹 There was broad consensus that the next MFF should mainstream sport and physical activity across EU programmes, recognising their contribution to multiple policy objectives.
This is fully aligned with EuropeActive's position and the Joint Statement (https://www.europeactive.eu/papers) signed by 116 organisations through the Sport and Physical Activity Coalition.
Recognising the enabling role of sport and physical activity is essential to building a healthier, more inclusive and cohesive Europe.
At EuropeActive, we will continue advocating for sport and physical activity to be recognised as fundamental components of EU policy and investment priorities.
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