The EURO at the council of ministers

Patrick Kanner, the minister for cities, youth and sport, and Thierry Braillard, the secretary of state for sports, gave a presentation on preparations for UEFA EURO 2016, which will take place in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016.

This international event is expected to attract 2.5 million fans to stadiums, as well as millions more visitors, tourists and supporters.

A significant amount of work has already been done at regional level on the construction or renovation of the stadiums in the ten host cities. This represents an overall investment of €1.6bn, creating 20,000 jobs in the construction, public works and service sectors. The government is contributing to the tune of €152m through a special allowance made to the national centre for the development of sport.
  
The organisation of UEFA EURO 2016 is based on a threefold alliance of the government (the interdepartmental committee for major sporting events), the regions and EURO 2016 SAS (the tournament organising company owned by UEFA and the French Football Federation).
  
A plan of action has been drafted to ensure a festive event by:

• pre-empting any social unrest through the mobilisation of national, European and international security services and judicial systems;
   
• reinforcing health services for the population in the regions hosting the tournament, including providing medical assistance to the teams and official delegations, and providing the best possible welcome for the teams and the population throughout the event by putting in place a rapid response unit for deployment in the event of a major incident.

Furthermore, the interdepartmental action plan for UEFA EURO 2016 aims to give the event a significant social dimension.
 

• UEFA EURO 2016 will be for everyone from school age upwards: educational initiatives will generate publicity in schools and among pupils, with special programmes for those who have dropped out of school and students with disabilities.
   
• UEFA EURO 2016 will be used as a tool to promote social cohesion. Five priority areas have been identified: employment, engagement and independence among young people (notably through community and volunteer services), citizenship, health and culture. The best initiatives identified throughout the country will be officially approved and will receive targeted support.
   
• UEFA EURO 2016 will take place all over France through the involvement of so-called priority districts (deprived areas identified by the government as particularly in need of regeneration), through entertainment activities in overseas territories, and through flexible public transport to facilitate the mobility of teams and fans alike. 

Finally, this event will contribute to growth, employment and the attractiveness of France through:
 

• the establishment of a wide-ranging and high-quality tourist offering, continuing the objectives set by the French government's so-called tourism assizes, France's long-term tourism strategy;

• the structuring and development of the subject of sporting economics and a move towards the idea of "sport for export", to reinforce French companies' share of the global market for major international sporting events;

• the maintenance of the commitments made in the areas of environmental protection and sustainable development that will be implemented throughout UEFA EURO 2016.