EOC President Spyros Capralos launched a robust defence of the European sport model at the European Union (EU) Sport Forum in Kraków, Poland, and held a productive meeting with the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef.
President Capralos was a speaker in a high-level panel on strengthening the European sport model based on solidarity, values and competitiveness.
He stressed the importance of protecting the model against commercial and global pressures to preserve its societal impact and collaborating with public authorities to ensure sport remains a public good.
President Capralos then met with Commissioner Micallef to discuss future collaboration and ways to maximise the Agreement of Cooperation between the EOC and the European Commission, which was renewed during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
President Capralos said: “Commissioner Micallef is a great supporter of European sport and defender of the European sport model, and it was a pleasure to use this important opportunity of the EU Sport Forum to discuss ways we can collaborate further.
“What makes the European sport model so unique is not just its structure, but the spirit behind it. In Europe, sport is not merely entertainment or a commercial product—it is a public good, a social movement and a tool for education, health and inclusion. The European sport model embodies this vision. It is built on solidarity, inclusiveness and the clear, complementary roles of all actors.
“At its heart, this model is a partnership between volunteers and professionals, elite and grassroots, sport organisations and public authorities. Every part of the system matters. Every actor plays a role.”
The panel discussion was moderated by the European Commission’s Director of Culture, Creativity and Sport Georg Häusler, and President Capralos sat alongside the Commissioner Micallef, UEFA Vice-President Laura McAllister, European Athletes & Players Association President Natalia Orive Siviter and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Sport in Portugal Duarte Lopes.
Organised by the European Commission, this year’s EU Sport Forum is being held in Kraków, the host city together with the Małopolska region for the hugely successful 2023 European Games.
The EU Sport Forum featured a keynote speech from the IOC President Thomas Bach delivered by live video link in which he underlined the importance of the European sport model, and a presentation from the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee. There were also sessions on topics including the role for sport in education, rights and wellbeing of athletes, and sport actions under the future Erasmus+ programme.
The EOC is proud of its strong relationship with the European Commission, and the renewed Agreement of Cooperation runs through to the end of 2027.
The EOC EU Office in Brussels serves as the representation of the EOC to European institutions and leads on several successful EU-funded sport projects.
