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European Parliament Resolution of 7 October 2025 on the Role of EU Policies in Shaping the European Sport Model

posted 4 hours ago

On 7 October 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the European Sport Model (ESM), renewing its vision of sport as a social and cultural good rather than a purely commercial enterprise.

With 552 votes in favour, the resolution signals strong cross-party support for defending the European tradition of open competition, solidarity, and democratic governance in sport. At the heart of the resolution lies a clear message: sport in Europe must remain rooted in the principles of solidarity, openness, and fairness. The ESM is reaffirmed as a system where sporting merit determines success and where revenues from elite competitions help sustain grassroots participation.

Parliament calls for a comprehensive mapping of existing redistribution mechanisms and for strengthened EU funding streams, notably through Erasmus+ and structural funds, to ensure that community and amateur sport continue to thrive. Public investment in sport must generate social value—promoting health, inclusion, and local cohesion. The resolution also strengthens the call for integrity and good governance.

Sports organisations, while enjoying a degree of autonomy, are reminded that they must operate within the boundaries of EU law, including competition and labour law. The Parliament urges the European Commission to provide legal guidance to reconcile sport’s specificities with EU principles, particularly in light of recent rulings by the Court of Justice of the EU. Transparency, accountability, and safeguards against corruption, match-fixing, and money laundering are presented as indispensable conditions for a credible and sustainable sporting ecosystem. A major innovation in this resolution is its focus on athletes’ rights.

For the first time, the Parliament explicitly recognises professional athletes as workers entitled to the same protections as other employees under EU law. It calls for better occupational health and safety standards, social protection, and mental health support, as well as stronger mechanisms to protect minors and regulate intermediaries. The creation of a European sectoral social dialogue for professional sport would further institutionalise the role of players and unions in decision-making processes.

The resolution highlights the need to remove barriers to participation for women, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups, urging Member States and sports bodies to build accessible infrastructure and promote equality at every level of governance. Sport, in this vision, becomes a driver of social cohesion and citizenship rather than an exclusive domain of elite interests.

By linking sporting merit, social responsibility, and the rule of law, the European Parliament positions the EU as a guardian of sport’s cultural integrity and public purpose. In a time when commercial and geopolitical pressures increasingly shape global sport, this resolution reaffirms that, in Europe, sport is more than business—it is a common good that belongs to all.

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European Parliament Resolution of 7 October 2025 on the Role of EU Policies in Shaping the European Sport Model

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