Brussels, 15 Oct. 26 – The Sport & Physical Activity Coalition, gathering more than 150 organisations, welcomes the position adopted on 29 September 2026 by the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) on the Erasmus+ programme for 2028–2034. The committee supports increasing the share of the programme dedicated to sport from 1.9% to 4.1%, within a proposed overall budget of €47.39 billion. This is about 16% above the Commission’s July 2025 proposal of €40.8 billion; the current programme stands at roughly €26 billion.
Erasmus+ is the EU’s main programme for funding sport. The committee’s position recognises what sport and physical activity bring to Europe: better health, social inclusion, skills and stronger local communities, but also important economic benefits. It follows the joint statement of 8 December 2025, in which 117 organisations asked for a stronger and more visible place for sport in the next programme, and the joint reaction and amendments presented by the Coalition to the European Parliament’s draft report in June 2026. The Coalition thanks the rapporteur, MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski, and the members of the CULT Committee for their work.
The Coalition particularly welcomes the standalone chapters and earmarking per sector, which support long-term planning and transparency for beneficiaries; the stronger focus on inclusion, solidarity and participation; the simplification of access and the priority given to newcomers and grassroots organisations with lower capacities; and the greater synergy with other Union programmes and national financing instruments.
Why sport matters
Sport and physical activity are proven drivers of health and wellbeing, skills development and inclusion, and powerful promoters of European values, solidarity and peace. The sport sector also accounts for over 2% of the EU’s GDP, and employment in sport in the EU grew by 6.5% between 2023 and 2024, reaching 0.8% of total EU employment (Eurostat). According to the Coalition, investing in physical activity through Erasmus+ also delivers a cost-effective return for preventive healthcare, easing the financial burden on Member States’ health systems.
What the figures mean
At 4.1%, sport would receive roughly €1.9 billion over 2028–2034. The 5% requested by the Coalition would represent roughly €2.4 billion, a difference of about €0.4 billion over seven years. For a sector present in every Member State, this is the difference between occasional project funding and the predictable, long-term support that clubs, federations, universities and cities need to plan ahead.
The Coalition’s amendments explain why this matters now. The sport strand is moving from a centralised model to a decentralised one managed by National Agencies, which is expected to trigger a surge in local demand. National Agencies will need the resources to reach smaller grassroots organisations, which have often been locked out of the programme by complex centralised procedures. Without a 5% floor, funding for sport risks being diluted within broader horizontal priorities just as the programme is being scaled up.
What the Coalition asks for
The Coalition restates the three priorities of its joint statement:
- A stronger Erasmus+ budget with a clear and visible identity for sport. Increase the overall Erasmus+ budget while keeping sport clearly identifiable within the programme, thus recognising the uniqueness and specificity of the sport and physical activity sector.
- A dedicated share of at least 5%. Earmark at least 5% of the Erasmus+ budget for sport and physical activity. A clear earmark lets organisations plan multi-year projects instead of depending on changing priorities from one year to the next.
- Balanced governance. Ensure strong EU-level coordination, together with dedicated funding for sport at b, so that sport receives a fair share of the programme in every country.
The joint statement also called for simpler access for small clubs and first-time applicants, and for sport to be embedded in other EU programmes such as Cohesion Policy and Horizon Europe.
Next steps
The 4.1% proposed by the committee is a significant step forward, but it remains below the 5% the sector considers necessary. The committee’s position now goes to the full Parliament. The Coalition will keep working with Members of the European Parliament and the Council ahead of the plenary vote expected in November and the interinstitutional negotiations that follow, and calls on them to confirm and strengthen the committee’s position.
About the Coalition
The Sport & Physical Activity Coalition brings together over 150 organisations from the European and international sport and physical activity sector. Since May 2025, its joint statements have been endorsed by 34 European networks and more than 100 other organisations. Its Steering Committee is composed of EASE, EPSI, EuroHockey, EuropeActive, FESI, ISCA, Sport and Citizenship and UEFA.