A delegation from the European University Sports Association (EUSA) attended the 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport, along with related meetings, held in the Principality of Monaco on November 3 and 4, 2026.

Representing EUSA at this high-level sports policy gathering were President Haris Pavletic, Secretary General Matjaz Pecovnik, Director of Projects and Policy Andrej Pisl, and Education Officer Milia Molinie, who attended in the role of a young delegate.

The official programme commenced with dedicated meetings and events on Tuesday, November 3. During the morning, EUSA delegation actively participated in the meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), with designated workshops on safeguarding, youth engagement and cooperation.

Later on Tuesday, the team attended a special event hosted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, featuring a dedicated ceremony and conference, marking the 10th anniversary of the Saint-Denis Convention on an integrated safety, security and service approach at football matches and other sports events.

In the evening, a reception was held at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, at which also additional signatories officially joined and adopted the convention.

The main Ministerial Conference took place on Wednesday, November 4, at the Grimaldi Forum, with the main theme "Safer and Healthier Sport for All Children". The event focused on preventing and responding to violence and abuse on the one hand and promoting children's physical and mental well-being on the other. Discussions and contributions showcased good practices and existing safeguarding measures, including codes of conduct, safer recruitment, training and involving young people in decisions that affect them.

The event was officially opened with a welcoming address by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. The opening session also featured welcoming addresses from Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Leila Marques Mota, First Vice President of the International Paralympic Committee. Discussions and panels throughout Wednesday focused heavily on building and delivering a common commitment to safer and healthier sport. The afternoon's session that focused on commitment to action in delivering safer and healthier sport, was officially introduced by Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco.

At the end of the working day, the participants adopted the Council of Europe resolution on safer and healthier sport for all children and young people. The high level events in Monaco concluded with a closing dinner hosted by the Monaco Government, also featuring cultural performances.

The two-day conference brought together a broad spectrum of governmental bodies, intergovernmental organisations, and key sports institutions to discuss good governance, safeguarding and cooperation, aiming to create safer and healthier sports environments, especially for children and youth. Contributing organisations and institutions highlighted throughout the panels included not only European ministers of sport and their delegates, but also global organisations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and UNESCO, key European umbrella organisations, including EUSA, and youth delegates nominated by European organisations and national governments.

Taking advantage of this prestigious gathering of global and European sports leaders, the EUSA team engaged with numerous stakeholders throughout the event, holding several bilateral meetings on the margins of the conference to discuss the continued development, safeguarding and future of university sports.

For more information, please see https://www.coe.int/en/web/sport/19th-conference-of-ministers-responsible-for-sport and https://sportministerial2026.gouv.mc 

HQ photos © Stéphane Danna / Direction de la Communication