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Innovation in Sports

The EU supports sport through dialogue, funding and progressive policies designed to improve access to sports activities and harness the sports economy. The EU has extended many initiatives and programmes in the field of sports.

Since 2018, the EU has fully included the Western Balkans in the ‘European Week of Sport Beyond Borders’ campaign. This initiative, which promotes more active and healthier lifestyles, has been extended to the region with the goal of broadening existing cooperation.

EU4Youth: The European Week of Sport Beyond Borders

This program specifically targets the Western Balkans, providing funding to support the implementation of the European Week of Sport in the region. It aims to get more young people involved in sport and physical activities.

Erasmus+ Sport Actions

The new Erasmus+ program includes a dedicated sports strand that offers opportunities for Western Balkan partners to engage in international cooperation projects. This allows sports organizations in the region to:

  • Participate in Cooperation Partnerships to develop and implement joint activities promoting sport and physical activity.
  • Engage in Small-scale Partnerships, which are more accessible for grassroots organizations and newcomers.
  • Organize Not-for-profit European Sport Events to encourage sporting activity and implement EU strategies for social inclusion through sport.

Capacity Building in the Field of Sport

As of 2022, the EU introduced a specific call for Capacity Building projects in the field of sport, targeting EU Member States and the Western Balkans. These projects aim to:

  • Support sport activities and policies as a vehicle to promote values
  • Use sport as an educational tool for personal and social development
  • Build more cohesive communities

These capacity-building projects involve multilateral partnerships between organizations active in sports from EU countries and the Western Balkans, with a focus on raising the capacity of grassroots sports organizations and encouraging sport and physical activity in the region.

Through these initiatives, the EU is working to promote sports innovation, social inclusion, and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, while also aligning these efforts with broader EU strategic priorities such as digital transformation and the implementation of the Green Deal.

Geographical focus:

All Western Balkans Europe

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