ENGSO
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ENGSO, the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation
Pan-European sports policy co-operation in ENGSO covers activities of all 40 ENGSO member organisations around Europe. The role of ENGSO is to promote the sports interests in the political sphere at European and at national level. As a strategic player, ENGSO strives to be a counterpart both to the Council of Europe and the European Union, as well as a link with the international and European sports organisations, especially with the umbrella sports bodies such as the European Olympic Committees and European Paralympic Committees.
Click here to visit ENGSO's official website: http://www.engso.eu/
ENGSO calls for inclusion of grassroots sports in EU structured dialogue
On the eve of the informal meeting of the EU sport directors, ENGSO approached the Belgian minister responsible for sport, Philippe Muyters, with a letter encouraging the Belgian Presidency of the EU to ensure that the voice of grassroots sports is heard in the planned high-level structured dialogue in sport.
"Given ENGSO's role as a European umbrella sport organisation covering the national umbrella sport organisations in 41 European countries, and given its activities in promoting grassroots sports and the work of voluntary-based sport organisations, ENGSO is the natural choice to be the representative of grassroots sports in a European high-level dialogue", underlined the ENGSO President, Birgitta Kervinen.
 | ENGSO Structured Dialogue (245 kB) |
 ENGSO Ms President Birgitta Kervinen and Nobel Prize Laureate Mr Ahtisaari |
ENGSO President Kervinen met Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ahtisaari
ENGSO President Ms Birgitta Kervinen met Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mr Martti Ahtisaari in Brussels. Mr Ahtisaari is also a former President of Finland. He was on his way to meet President of the European Council Mr Herman Van Rompuy. Mr Ahtisaari wished all the success to ENGSO President in her work.
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ENGSO General Assembly adopted a Manifesto on a Truly Inclusive Sport
ENGSO adopted a manifesto on inclusive sport in its 18th General Assembly in Belgrade on 14-15 May. Underlining the important cohesive and inclusive role sport can play in society, ENGSO encourages sport organisations, in cooperation with public authorities on both national and European level, to take action in eight areas; the Manifesto touches upon the inclusion of immigrant populations, social exclusion, solidarity between generations, gender equality, racism, sexual orientation, violence, and disability.
Set against a backdrop of the EU2020 strategy, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010 and the sport provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, the Manifesto is hoped to raise awareness and impact relevant policies of sport organisations as well as to contribute to discussions on the inclusive role of sport in society. Recommended measures include supporting educational initiatives, creating guidelines, improving cooperation and embracing projects in various areas, among others.
EU Seminar – “Sport = Truly Inclusive” was held before the General Assembly and it was devoted to the Manifesto. ENGSO Executive Committee continues with same members as there weren't any elections in the General Assembly this year.
 EOC President Mr Patrick Hickey, ENGSO President Ms Birgitta Kervinen, Head of the EOC EU Office Mr Folker Hellmund and ENGSO Vice-President Mr Jan Bohac. |
Cooperation Meeting of ENGSO and European Olympic Committees
ENGSO-EOC meeting was held at the EOC EU Office in Brussels on 3 February 2010. ENGSO President Birgitta Kervinen and EOC President Patrick Hickey discussed the future cooperation of the two European umbrella organisations.
 ENGSO Forum 2009 and the Final Conference of ENGSO's EU:Sport:Future Project gathered more than 100 participants. |
ENGSO Forum 2009 adopted the Final Declaration of the EU:Sport:Future Project
The 12th ENGSO Forum, held from 29 to 31 of October 2009 organised by the Portugal Sports Confederation. The Forum, one of ENGSO’s main events had this year much to add. Thanks to active work of almost 100 participants, all items of quite an extensive agenda were fulfilled.
On the first day of the programme, representatives of 11 major Sports for All organisations and ENGSO gathered again after some years in a Round Table, to discuss possibilities for the Sports for All and its important societal role being ever more visible and present in the sports world of Europe.
This edition of ENGSO Forum hosted the Final Conference of EU:SPORT:FUTURE. After 5 workshops organized in the meantime, this represented the peak of very professionally managed Project that concluded in Oeiras, with a high priority declaration regarding the future of all important aspects of sports in Europe. More information about the project on its website.
The key topics of the 12th ENGSO Forum were Social inclusion through Sport, Women and Sport, as well as follow-up of the ENGSO General Assembly held in Paris last April. Two projects of ENGSO were presented as well, the ENTER! and WILD, both dedicated to development and education of good governance and leadership.
Participants showed great interest in all of the topics in the three days of ENGSO events and greatly contributed to the final declaration of the EU:Sport:Future Project and the final conclusion of the Forum, presented also at the Press Conference organized by the Portuguese Sport Confederation.
Representatives from the major European sports policy makers, European Commission – Mr. Michal Krejza (Head of Sport Unit) and Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport – Mr. Jean-Luc Janiszewski (Chair), took active part in the discussions and pointed out the current situation in sport in Europe.
ENGSO General Assambly presented ENGSO Manifesto 2009
ENGSO EU Seminar and the 17th ENGSO General Assembly were held in Paris on 24.-25.4.2009. One of the topics of the EU Seminar "Future of European Sport - Cooperation and Diversity" was the presentation of the ENGSO Manifesto 2009 Sport for an Active and Competitive Europe. It will be widely distributed to the members of the European Parliament and Political Groups before the upcoming EU Parliament elections in June 2009.
| EU Sport Forum 2008 BK Final.pdf (67 kB) |
 Ms Kervinen, Mr Mairesse, Ms Hollman and Mr Velasquez. |
ENGSO discusses vital sport issues with European Commission
Brussels, 17 July 2008 – Birgitta KERVINEN, ENGSO-President, met Mr Pierre MAIRESSE director for sport in the European Commission to discuss pressing sport topics on the agenda for 2008.
Ms KERVINEN stated: “There are several issues of concern. Probably the most important one is the Lisbon Treaty and the future development of sport at European level. In my view, the promotion and the development – not regulation – of sport can best be assured via the recognition of sport in the EU–Treaties. Therefore, we want to make sure that regardless of the name of a future treaty sport is referred to in it.”
Mr MAIRESSE underlined the important role ENGSO plays in European sports and is very pleased with the good cooperation. Talking about the White Paper on Sport, Ms. KERVINEN assured Mr. MAIRESSE about ENGSO’s support for its implementation. “As ENGSO is the voice of sport in Europe, we can contribute a lot to the development of sport in Europe in cooperation with the European Commission”, concluded the ENGSO–President the meeting.
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ENGSO signs grant agreement with the European Commission
Paris, 6 June 2008 – Birgitta KERVINEN, ENGSO-President, signed today the grant agreement with the European Commission in the House of Sports in Paris which gives structural support to ENGSO in 2008.
Ms KERVINEN stated: “This grant of the European Commission for ENGSO recognizes ENGSO’s role as the voice of sport in Europe and underlines our high quality work and increase in importance at European level. ENGSO is looking forward to cooperate with the European Commission for the benefit of sport.”
ENGSO has a long tradition in supporting the legal recognition of sport in the EU-Treaties and contributed substantially in drafting the EU White Paper on Sport. During its consultation on the White Paper the European Commission has picked up many of ENGSO’s issues like the role of voluntary non-profit sport organisations or enhancing public health through physical activity as priority key policies. In addition, due to ENGSO’s long-time demands, the article on sport has been finally incorporated in the Lisbon Treaty.
“ENGSO has the same objective as the EU in the field of sport: Promote and develop sport at European level. ENGSO will therefore contribute to the implementation of the EU White Paper. Furthermore, ENGSO is ready to give input on how to shape the future EU competence in the field of sport,” concluded Ms KERVINEN.
 ENGSO President Ms Birgitta Kervinen |
16th ENGSO General Assembly
Istanbul (Turkey), 17 May 2008
ENGSO General Assembly 2008: The future of sport in Europe looks bright
During the 16th General Assembly of the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO), Birgitta KERVINEN, ENGSO President, welcomed the latest European developments in relation to sport – in particular the EU White Paper on Sport and the article on sport in the Lisbon Treaty.
ENGSO has a long tradition in supporting the legal recognition of sport in the EU-Treaties. Due to ENGSO’s long-time demands, the article on sport has been finally incorporated in the Lisbon Treaty. Therefore, ENGSO welcomes the Lisbon Treaty and the future sport’s competence as an area in which the European Union can carry out measures to support, coordinate or complement the actions of the Member States. ENGSO will be ready to give valuable input on how to shape a future EU competence in the field of sport, according to Ms KERVINEN.
In connection to the White Paper Ms KERVINEN stated: “ENGSO is very satisfied that the European Commission has picked up many of our issues like the role of voluntary non-profit sport organisations or enhancing public health through physical activity as priority key policies in the White Paper. Now, the implementation of the Pierre de Coubertin Action Plan with these priorities is of prime importance.”
Furthermore, the ENGSO-members have been informed that ENGSO will receive structural support from the European Commission for its proposed work programme 2008. This grant underlines the high quality work of ENGSO and its increase in importance at European level. ENGSO will build on this recognition of its role for sport in Europe and cooperate with EU-stakeholders even more.
The next ENGSO Forum will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 22-23 October 2008 and focus on health and volunteering. The next ENGSO General Assembly will take place in May 2009 in Paris, France.