News 2025
2025 EPAS highlights – Towards more ethical, more inclusive and safer sport
2025 stands out as a year marked by strong collective momentum for values-based sport, human rights and inclusion. Throughout the year, sport once again proved its unique capacity to bring people together, address societal challenges and promote well-being across all ages and backgrounds. From...
Conversations with Sports Safety and Service Experts – Julien Van Belle on operational safety and the ‘spectator experience’
In the final episode of the Balance S4 mini-series on safety and service at sports events, we speak to Julien Van Belle, from the Football Unit of the Ministry of Interior of Belgium. In his interview, Julien van Belle discusses the importance of combining safety and service measures for...
Forum on Sport and Human Rights 2025: focus on health and well-being
The Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) held its 4th edition of the Forum on Sport and Human Rights on 16 December in hybrid format (Council of Europe Office in Paris and online). This annual event focuses on one or more topical issues for the world of sport. The 2025...
T-DO Evaluation visit in Monaco
A team of anti-doping experts from the Council of Europe travelled to Monaco on 4 to 5 December 2025 for an evaluation visit to analyse and strengthen specific aspects of the national anti-doping system. The purpose of this mission was to review the actions undertaken by Monaco to implement the...
Macolin Week in Strasbourg: First “Day of Controversies” deepened debate on competition manipulation
From 3 to 5 December 2025, the Council of Europe organised “Macolin Week” in Strasbourg, bringing together three key events: the 9th meeting of the Group of Copenhagen, a joint conference including a dedicated “Controversies” session, and the 11th meeting of the Follow-up Committee to the Macolin...
Balance S4: Time for Action!
The “Balance S4: Time for Action!” closing event on “Strengthening the Safety and Service pillars of the Saint-Denis Convention” was held on 4 December to wrap up the joint European Union - Council of Europe project and in the framework of the 8th meeting of the Saint-Denis Committee. Watch the...
The Committee of the Saint-Denis Convention and its Ad hoc Working Group on FIFA 2026 meet in Strasbourg
The Saint-Denis Committee held its 8th meeting in Strasbourg, on 2-3 December 2025, back-to-back with the second meeting of its Ad hoc Working Group on FIFA Men’s Football World Cup 2026 (Canada, Mexico and USA). The Committee re-elected Inanç Özçakmak as Chair of the Advisory Group on Standard...
Conversations with Sports Safety and Service Experts – Dmytro Zharyi on promoting accessibility and inclusion for fans with disabilities
In the 11th episode of the Balance S4 Mini-series on safety and service at sports events, we speak with an advocate for the inclusion of fans with disabilities in sports events – Dmytro Zharyi, human rights lawyer and trustee of AccessibAll. Dmytro stresses that working with fans with...
New recommendation on the possession and use of pyrotechnics at sports events
The Committee on Safety and Security at Sports Events, of the Saint-Denis Convention, adopted, on 25 November 2025, a Recommendation on the possession and use of pyrotechnics at football matches and other sports events - (Rec (2025)2). The Saint-Denis Convention (CETS No. 218) in its Article 5.5,...
Conversations with Sports Safety and Service Experts – Anoush Morel on shaping European sport through harmonised and inclusive standards
In the tenth episode of the Balance S4 Mini-series on safety and service at sports events, we speak with an advocate of women’s safety at sports events, Anoush Morel. For her, safety is crucial. She highlights the importance of the Council of Europe and the European Union joint project Balance S4...
Cyprus ratifies the Saint-Denis Convention
George S. Yiangou, Permanent Representative of Cyprus, deposited before Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the instrument of ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports...
The Pool of International Experts focuses on safer environments for children in sports associations
The Council of Europe’s Pool of International Experts on Safe Sport held its 4th annual meeting on 13-14 November 2025 in hybrid format (Paris, France, and online). In the framework of the meeting, a seminar on creating safer environments for children in sports associations was organised in...
T-DO evaluation visit to Canada
On 12-14 November, a team of Council of Europe experts carried out an Evaluation Visit in Ottawa, Canada, to assess the Canadian anti-doping system and their fulfilment of Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention’s requirement with regards safe and clean sport. The Evaluation Team was hosted by...
MotivAction: an evolving toolbox to strengthen the reporting of the manipulation of sports competitions
Reporting attempts to manipulate competitions and exchanging information are essential to safeguarding the integrity of sport. Under the Macolin Convention, States have established national platforms bringing together public authorities, the sports movement, law-enforcement services and sports...
Sport and Intergenerational Challenges for Young People and Older Persons: EPAS Diversity Conference 2025
The Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) held its flagship biennial event, the 2025 Diversity Conference, on 21 October from 9.30am to 5.00pm in hybrid format (Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe, and online). This year’s theme was “Sport and Intergenerational Challenges for...
New recommendation on collective bans against away football supporters
The Committee on Safety and Security at Sports Events, of the Saint-Denis Convention, adopted, on 6 October 2025, a Recommendation on the use of collective bans against away football supporters (Rec (2025)1). This Recommendation defines a banning order as legal or statutory mechanism used by a...
The Saint-Denis Committee holds a monitoring visit to Hungary
A team of Council of Europe experts carried out a monitoring visit to Hungary, from 10 to 11 October 2025, to support in the preparations for UEFA 2026 Champions League final and assess its overall approach on the organisation of football matches and other sports events. The aim of the visit was...
First Sport For All Webinar on training and development of Para sport coaches, referees and managers
The “Sport For All” joint European Union - Council of Europe project held its first webinar on 14 October from 10am to 12.20pm CEST. The event focused on the development and training of coaches, referees, and managers in Para sport. The webinar brought together coaches, referees, policy makers,...
T-DO evaluation visit to Liechtenstein
In line with the mandate of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention to conduct targeted evaluation visits to review and improve specific aspects of a country's anti-doping system, a team of Council of Europe experts conducted an evaluation visit to Liechtenstein. The aim of the visit was to...
States Parties adopt new recommendation to tackle doping risks in recreational sport
At its 61st meeting, held on 3-4 September 2025 in Strasbourg and online, and chaired by Michał Rynkowski (Poland), the Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention (T-DO) confirmed the adoption of the Recommendation on measures to address the risks of doping in recreational sport [document...
