The Council of Europe celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Saint-Denis Convention[1] – which sets out a multi-agency integrated approach on safety, security and service at football matches and other sports events – at a conference held in Monaco on 3 November 2026, ahead of the 19th Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport.
Opened for signature in 2016, the Saint Denis Convention is the only legally binding international instrument that establishes a multi-agency integrated safety, security and service approach and also encourages cooperation between all stakeholders, both public and private, in order to promote safer, more secure and more welcoming sports events.
The conference brought together key stakeholders from public authorities, the sports world and the civil society sector. Topics discussed included the Convention’s achievements over its first decade, such as its effective implementation in several European countries and the adoption of its standards by UEFA and Football Supporters Europe.
The event also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and encouraged more States to ratify the Convention, including those outside Europe, thereby extending its influence.
A signing and ratification ceremony was held at the Oceanographic Museum in presence of Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Andorra and San Marino signed the Saint-Denis Convention at this occasion.
On the sidelines of this conference, the Saint-Denis Committee held its10th plenary meeting on 3 and 4 November 2026, followed by the fourth and final meeting of its ad hoc Working Group on the FIFA 2026 Men’s World Cup (Canada, the United States and Mexico) to take stock of the legacy of this tournament.
Opening address by Hanne Juncker, Director of Security, Integrity and the Rule of Law, Council of Europe.
Opening address by Lionel Beffre, Government Councillor and Minister of Interior, Principality of Monaco.
Closing address by Rodrigo Cavaleiro, Chair of the Saint-Denis Committee.
- Programme for the conference on 3 November 2026 in Monaco
- Review of the Saint-Denis Committee’s first five years of activity (2021–2025)
- The Saint-Denis Convention
- The Saint-Denis Committee
- The monitoring programme
History of the Convention:
- Entry into force of the Saint-Denis Convention in 2017
- The Convention was opened for signature in 2016 at the Stade de France
- Adoption of the Saint-Denis Convention by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
[1] The Saint-Denis Convention is an international legal treaty of the Council of Europe, the only one of its kind in the world. It is named after the town of Saint-Denis, in the Paris region, where it was opened for signature on 3 July 2016 at the Stade de France, during the UEFA EURO 2016 football tournament, which was hosted by France.
