The UEC endorses strong MEP vote to protect the European Sport Model

The Union of European Clubs (UEC) strongly commends the vote by Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), endorsing the draft report on "The Role of EU Policies in Shaping the European Sport Model." This clear mandate from elected representatives sends a powerful message in support of a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future for European sport, and call on the European Commission to:

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• Present a long-term EU strategy to protect and strengthen the European Sport Model, focused on solidarity, sustainability, and legal certainty.
• Defend the integrity of national leagues as the foundation of the European sport ecosystem, using all possible tools to prevent breakaway competitions and ensure that access to European competitions is based solely on sporting performance.
• Ensure stakeholder representation, athletes’ rights, and inclusive governance are embedded across all levels of sport policy.

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The UEC welcomes the report’s robust defence of core values such as solidarity, sporting merit, financial integrity, and inclusive governance. As the European association dedicated to representing the interests of clubs beyond the elite, we applaud the Parliament's recognition of the need to strengthen the links between grassroots and professional levels through effective financial redistribution and reward mechanisms.

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In this spirit, we highlight the alignment of this report with the recently launched UEC Player Development Reward Policy (PDR), a reform proposal that aims to reward clubs that invest in developing young talent. Our policy provides a concrete and fair mechanism to recognise the contributions of thousands of clubs across Europe who play a vital role in nurturing future generations of players.

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We thank Rapporteur Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski and the CULT Committee MEPs for their leadership and for listening to the concerns and aspirations of smaller and medium-sized clubs. As the debate now moves forward, the UEC reiterates the importance of social dialogue and representation, and stands ready to work alongside EU institutions and all stakeholders to help implement this shared vision.

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We are proud to support a European Sport Model that protects opportunity, promotes values, and rewards those who invest their heart in the game.‍

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Union of European Clubs (UEC)
Brussels, July 2025

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