Sport is defined by the European Sports Charter as “all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, are aimed at maintaining or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.”

The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS)  promotes sport for all, a sport founded on values and capable of bringing benefits to individuals and society in terms of health, social inclusion and especially education.

EPAS provides a pan-European platform of intergovernmental sports co-operation, involving both political and technical levels and including the public authorities of its member states, sports organisations and NGOs.

EPAS develops policies and standards to promote more ethical, inclusive and safer sport in member states. EPAS enabled the revision of the European Sports Charter in 2021 which serves as a foundation for sports policies.

Through visits, EPAS supports member states in implementing the values of the European Sports Charter. Local public authorities and civil society are notably present during these visits. In addition, EPAS prepares texts and recommendations for submission to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, as demonstrated by the recent adoption of a declaration on sport integrity.

It provides technical assistance and capacity building to public authorities and the sports movement. It also supports dialogue and co-operation between governments and sports organisations, at political and technical levels.

EPAS works in close co-operation with the three existing convention committees and the ad hoc European Committee for the World Doping Agency (CAHAMA) on topics covered by the sports conventions and issues of common interest. The partial agreement works with international partners including the EU, UNESCO and the UNODC, the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS) co-founded by the International Olympic Committee and numerous International and European federations, umbrella organisations and NGOs involved in sport.

EPAS includes a consultative body made up of 27 civil society organisations. Civil society actively participates in the creation and development of projects around key cross-cutting themes such as gender equality in sport, the human rights of transgender and intersex athletes or the inclusion of migrant children in and through sport. Sports NGOs can apply for consultative committee membership by applying to the EPAS secretariat.

EPAS runs thematic projects to help its member states address issues such as discrimination in sport and child protection through its flagship project “Start to Talk” and the international pool of experts on safe sport.

Finally, under the authority of EPAS, the Network of Magistrates / Prosecutors Responsible for Sports, or MARS Network, was recently founded. It aims to strengthen international cooperation and the exchange of information in the protection of sport integrity by allowing the creation of synergies between different countries and legal systems.