The Governing Board and Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) held their annual joint plenary meeting on 29 and 30 May 2024 in Strasbourg, France. 

The meeting focused on the European Sports Charter, with a dedicated session which allowed for the showcasing and sharing of best practice examples implemented by member states and sports organisations on a number of dimensions covered by the Charter. These dimensions included human rights in and through sport, sport for all, education, inclusion of migrants and refugees, and sustainability. The roundtable was opened by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity of Finland, and Kaari Mattila, Secretary General of the Finnish League for Human Rights. 

The Plenary meeting welcomed delegations from two new member states, namely Denmark and Ireland. Key documents pertaining to the 18th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for sport (Porto, 8-10 October 2024) were finalised. Furthermore, participants discussed the 2024-2025 EPAS Strategy as well as possible themes for the 2025 EPAS Diversity Conference, and recognised the importance of a new series of 10 factsheets* showcasing the thematic areas of EPAS’ work. 

During its in camera plenary meeting, the Governing Board elected Bram Van Houten (Netherlands) to its Bureau.

The Consultative Committee elected its new Bureau at its in camera plenary meeting. Charlotte Girard Fabre (International Federation of Sport Officials – IFSO) and Mogens Kirkeby (International Sport and Culture Association – ISCA) were re-elected as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, and Andrej Pisl (European University Sports Association – EUSA), Annamarie Phelps (European Olympic Committees – EOC), Pauline Johanet (Peace and Sport) and Patrik Perosa (International Dance Organization – IDO) were elected as Bureau members. 

*Read our thematic factsheets on: EPAS - The European Sports Charter - Human rights in and through sport - Sport for all - (Child) safeguarding in sport - Education - Inclusion of migrants and refugees - Sustainability - Gender equality - Sport integrity

The European Sports Charter is the Council of Europe standard which lays down the basic principles for national sports policies, allowing governments to support and provide opportunities for the practice of sport for all under well-defined conditions. As part of the EPAS mandate, support and follow-up visits to the implementation of the Charter are carried out each year in its member states by an EPAS team. The findings, recommendations and good practices identified during each visit are compiled in a report that EPAS sends to the local authorities. The adopted reports are made available to the public on the EPAS website.