UEFA and the Council of Europe sign Memorandum of Understanding

019 - Landmark agreement outlines plans to work closely together in areas of common interest

UEFA and the Council of Europe have signed a historic memorandum of understanding, which formalises and enhances their cooperation in the interests of the long-term development of sport and its role in society.

The memorandum was signed today at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg, France, by the UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, and the Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland.

The memorandum focuses on four main areas of cooperation: human rights, integrity and governance in sport; safety and security at football matches; mutual cooperation in view of major football events; as well as institutional cooperation by means of regular dialogue, joint initiatives, exchanges of good-practice and targeted projects.

“We are pleased to enter into a formal and strategic partnership with the Council of Europe,” Mr Čeferin said. “I am looking forward to expanding our dialogue even further, thus taking our cooperation to the next level. Together, we can make progress to promote the positive values of football and the European sports model in general.”

Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland stated: “Sport is of enormous benefit to society and we should maximise its positive potential. Our partnership will help us promote human rights and good governance in sport on the basis of the shared common European values of diversity and solidarity.”

The newly signed memorandum outlines that UEFA and the Council of Europe share a number of values and principles. These include respect for human rights and dignity, democracy, non-discrimination, cultural diversity, tolerance, sustainability, solidarity, ethics in sport and a commitment to good governance.

The signing of this memorandum emphasises the strengthening of UEFA’s relations with European public authorities. Earlier this year, a renewed and extended arrangement for cooperation was signed with the European Commission in Brussels.