The European Union’s Erasmus+ programme is a vital tool in improving good governance across grassroots sport in Europe, according to SD Europe CEO Antonia Hagemann.
Antonia made her comments while speaking as part of an expert panel on the topic of Promotion of European Values through sport at the recent 2018 EU Sport Forum.
The work being done by supporters at all levels of the game in football is significant and makes a vital contribution to European values and the principles of good governance, she added.
Held in Bulgaria to celebrate the country’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the EU Sport Forum brings together sports organisations, policy makers and representatives of the EU institutions and member states for a wide range of presentations and discussions. This year’s theme was “investing for future generations”.
The event’s opening speeches were delivered by European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, and Bulgarian Minister of Youth and Sports, Krasen Kralev.
Additional sessions included: The role of sport in promoting international cooperation, Transfers of players: different aspects and perspectives, as well as Sport and Climate Change: how can sport contribute to the Paris Agreement.
Speaking during the Promotion of European Values through sport discussion, Antonia highlighted the three EU-funded projects that SD Europe has coordinated to date, and said the work would not be possible without the funding provided by the European Union and the support given by the European Commission and its staff to the organisation.
SD Europe’s Preparatory Action and subsequent Clubs and Supporters for Better Governance in Football projects have recorded notable outcomes, and a third project is now underway since January. LIAISE will focus on the development of the supporter liaison officer (SLO) role and its potential in tackling the threat posed to the integrity of sport by spectator violence.