EU Sport Diplomacy: An Idea Whose Time Has Nearly Come

Abstract

The EU is often characterized as an economic giant but a political dwarf. In recognition of the need to develop its diplomatic persona, it is increasingly deploying soft power. Since the adoption of the sports competence in the Lisbon Treaty, the EU has considered the potential of sport to assist with the amplification of foreign policy messages. However, unlike many nation-states, it has not yet developed a sport diplomacy strategy, although the adoption of one is being discussed at ministerial level. Employing Kingdon's multiple streams framework, this article explains how solutions have become joined to problems and that increasingly favourable political forces have opened a policy window through which the first ever EU sport diplomacy strategy should pass. However, the article also urges caution on policy entrepreneurs by advising on the circumstances in which Kingdon's three streams will couple and a strategy emerge.

European Cities of Sport as a Strategic Policy for Local Development of Sports: A Perspective from Sports Management in the Last Decade

“…In the European context, we can currently affirm that sport has, without doubt, become one of the pillars of the cohesion and development policies of all European countries (Breitbarth et al, 2019;Parrish, 2022;Moustakas, 2023).…”

“…With the signing of the Lisbon Treaty in 2007, the European Union became politically responsible for creating public policy measures and instruments that aim to develop physical activity and sport, by delegating and 30 Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research, 2024, 103, 28-43 making each member state responsible for these actions (Parrish, 2022).…”

“…Countries that have historically been less developed, such as Portugal, have benefited greatly from access to funding and various forms of support that enabled new public sports policies to be established (Santos et al, 2021). At the same time, existing policies in line with European guidelines and standards have been strengthened (Fernandes et al, 2011;Parrish, 2022).…”

“…This vision and understanding of the need for innovation and adaptation in national and European policies to the emerging contexts and opportunities for intervention as a means of encouraging the growth of active population levels (Cunningham et al, 2020;Parrish, 2022), while recognising the merit of the political activity of local leaders has encouraged the creation of new local development policy instruments, such as the "European Cities of Sport" award and distinction (Matušíková et al, 2020).…”

EU normative actorness in sport

“…Meanwhile, at the Council level, utilizing sport as a means of projecting EU norms and values has been recognized as a 'priority theme' by the Council Resolution on the European Union Work Plan for Sport 2017-2020115 In fact, by identifying the promotion of EU values via sport as a priority theme, the Council Resolution has been said to have added political and administrative impetus to the importance of using sport as a vehicle in showcasing EU values within and among other EU institutions 116. This has led to, among others, the creation of key platforms for dialogue on sport at the EU level, such as the European Sport Forum, consisting of EU Sport Ministers, UEFA, FIFA, and the European Olympic Committees'117 along with the European Week of Sport 118. Consequently, one can argue that this is an expression of EU cohesion when it comes to sports' normative Notwithstanding the seemingly evident elements of cohesion when it comes to promoting EU values using sport, some elements of cohesion can also be discerned when looking at the infamous European Super League project.…”