The bilateral agreement was signed by EOC President Janez Kocijančič and NOC of Croatia Secretary General Josip Čop during the recent EOC General Assembly in Zagreb, and becomes effective as of 1 January 2018, making the NOC of Croatia the 12th NOC to become an official partner and the 26th partner of organisation overall.

The partnership between the NOC of Croatia and the EOC EU Office is a further step in what was already a fruitful cooperation that started already many years ago.

Already in 2012, the NOC of Croatia was one of the core partners of the EU-funded “Sport 4 Good Governance” Project of the EOC EU Office. But also after the conclusion of the Project the NOC and the EOC EU Office have worked together on various occasions, for instance within the framework of the SUCCESS Project of the NOC of Croatia.

EOC President Janez Kocijančič expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, stating that this new agreement demonstrates the European-wide approach of the EOC EU Office. He added that Croatia, having joined the European Union only in 2013, shows the willingness of the National Olympic Committees of Europe to cooperate closely with the European institutions in various fields. “This cooperation has great significance not only for the NOC of Croatia, but for the entire sport in Croatia.”

Although the EOC is the umbrella of 50 NOCs, President Kocijančič expressed his satisfaction with the recent openness of the EU institutions towards non-EU countries and NOCs, for instance within the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Week of Sport.

NOC Secretary General Josip Čop added: “The NOC of Croatia has recognised the importance of cooperation with the EOC EU Office. This agreement will improve our cooperation on European projects and in relation to the formulation of European policies in the field of sport.”