Key partners
In addition to its statutory partners, the Council of Europe also implements activities in close collaboration with key non-state actors including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), UNESCO, the European Union and INTERPOL, as well as sport organisations, including the IOC, UEFA and FIFA.
Such co-operation allows for member states to be assisted or supported in implementing worldwide strategies and standards such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals or the World Anti-Doping Code, but it also facilitates the proposal and promotion of norms, measures and good practices at worldwide level, that were developed thanks to Council of Europe co-operation.
European Commission
The Sport section and other relevant directorates of our two organisations keep in contact through regular liaison meetings and events. The European Union is represented at Conferences of Ministers responsible for Sport and is invited to participate in meetings of the EPAS Governing Board, the T-DO, T-RV, and T-MC. Likewise, the Council of Europe is invited to European Sports Forums organised by the European Commission.
European Police Office (EUROPOL)
EUROPOL is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Co-operation. It was a supporting organisation of the KCOOS Project (T-MC Macolin Convention) and the Analysis Project Sports Corruption continues to collaborate on issues regarding the law enforcement involvement in the fight against the manipulation of sport competitions.
EUROPOL also participates at meetings of the Working Group on the security preparations of UEFA EURO 2020, within the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence (T-RV).
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
FIFA participates at meetings of the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence (T-RV) and has begun collaboration on the T-MC (Macolin) Convention on the Manipulation of Sport Competitions.
For the World Cup football tournaments, the Council of Europe ensures the co-ordination, between the authorities of countries participating in the competition, of police co-operation and the prevention of spectator violence.
FIFA supports the KCOOS+ project (the second project following the concluded KCOOS Keep Crime Out of Sport project within the T-MC Macolin Convention).
International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)
INTERPOL participates at meetings of the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence (T-RV), including the Working Group on the security preparations of UEFA EURO 2020, besides regular bilateral meetings to ensure co-ordination.
The T-MC Macolin Convention Secretariat participates and speaks at the INTERPOL Task Force on match-fixing meetings. INTERPOL is an active partner in the Macolin Roadmap and was a partner of the KCOOS (Keep Crime Out of Sport) Project. It is now associated with the KCOOS+ project.
International Olympic Committee
EPAS works closely with the IOC on a number of themes: on the subject of integrity and good governance within the IPACS partnership and with mutual participation in each other’s high-level meetings; on implementing strategies and relevant projects to achieve gender equality in sport (e.g. “Balance in Sport”) and to combat and prevent sexual violence against children (eg. PSS+); the IOC was also a key player in the preparatory meetings leading up to and during the negotiation process of the convention on the manipulation of sports competitions.
Effective co-operation is taking place as part of the “Partnership Development Meetings/ workshops” co-organised with INTERPOL related to the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions. The IOC was also an associate partner of the KCOOS Project, providing assistance in the implementation of measures against the manipulation of sport competitions (T-MC).
MESGO
The Executive Master in Sport Governance (MESGO) is a unique programme designed for sports sector professionals wishing to master the complex dimensions and the diversity of international practices related to professional sport on an international level.
This executive master is aimed at fulfilling 3 main objectives:
- emphasise the international dimension of sport;
- anticipate the forthcoming key challenges, and
- positively impact the development of sport governance
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
As well as being a member of the EPAS Consultative Committee, UEFA participates at meetings of the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence (T-RV), its Working Group on the security preparations of UEFA EURO 2020 and monitoring visits, and the Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention (T-DO). The T-RV Standing Committee also takes part in several UEFA initiatives, notably its annual Stadium and Security Conference.
For the European football championships, the Council of Europe ensures the co-ordination, between the authorities of countries participating in the competition, of police co-operation and the prevention of spectator violence.
UEFA supports the KCOOS+ project (T-MC Macolin Convention on manipulation of sports competitions).
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
The co-operation between the Council of Europe and Unesco, based on a 1952 agreement, has undergone productive developments, often going beyond the formal framework originally laid down. Unesco’s International Convention against Doping in Sport has implied intensive co-operation between our 2 organisations, allowing them to adopt a co-ordinated approach to monitoring and policy controls.
Unesco also has strong co-operation ties with EPAS, with high-level attendance at each other’s ministerial conferences. The most recent being MINEPS VI, where commitment was made by both organisations to collaborate on improving governance in sport.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
This UN agency in charge of the fight against corruption is a partner in the IPACS Working Group and advocates, at worldwide level, for the idea that corruption in sport and match-fixing be tackled by member states. It also ensures co-ordination with the Council of Europe on integrity issues.
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
The Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1 University) is working together with the Council of Europe and other international partners to address sport integrity issues, particularly in relation to match-fixing and illegal and irregular betting. EPAS was one of the international stakeholders invited to be a partner to its joint programme with ICSS to promote and globally support sport integrity.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA’s mission is to fight against doping in order to preserve and promote the fundamental values of sport. The Council of Europe appoints two representatives from the ‘Europe’ region for the WADA Foundation Board. The first represents the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the second comes from a non-European Union country. The Council of Europe also provides information and co-ordination support to the agency’s bodies.
Furthermore, the Council of Europe plays an active role in WADA policy-making. It co-operates in particular in certain areas by discussing texts produced by WADA or by taking part in activities organised by the agency. In 2016, the two organisations further strengthened their co-operation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
World Lotteries Association and European Lotteries Association
European Lotteries was an active associate partner of the KCOOS Project (T-MC Macolin Convention) and now partnerships have been agreed with both associations and the Council of Europe for implementing the KCOOS+ project related to the manipulation of sports competitions.
