Commissioner Glenn Micallef
European Commission
[email protected]
Dear Commissioner Glenn Micallef,
We sincerely appreciate your active support for Ukraine and your commitment to preventing the
use of international sports by Russia and Belarus for political purposes.
Despite repeated statements and calls by the Ministers of the European Union and other countries,
including at the most recent meetings of European Council1 and the Education, Youth, Culture and
Sport Council of the Council of the European Union2, urging international sports organizations not
to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes, coaches, referees, and officials to participate in
international sporting competitions until Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has ended,
International Olympic Committee and certain international sports organisations, such as the World
Aquatics and the International Gymnastics Federation, have chosen a different course.
These statements reflect the reality that Ukrainian athletes are unable to train and prepare under
equal conditions. Many have been displaced, directly affected by the destruction caused by the
war, or have chosen to defend their country and fellow citizens. In this context, any assertions that
sport can be separated from politics ring hollow when thousands of innocent Ukrainians have lost
their lives and when sport continues to be instrumentalised by the Russian and Belarusian regimes.
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, enabled by the
Belarusian government, is abhorrent and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and
fundamental international obligations. Respect for human rights, the rule of law, and peaceful
relations between nations are among the core principles underpinning international sport and the
Olympic movement. While fully respecting the autonomy of sports organizations, the EU Sports
Ministers have consistently called on international sports bodies to uphold and defend these
principles.
We would like to express serious concern that certain international sports organisations have
chosen not to align their decisions with these fundamental values. By doing so, they
have demonstrated a clear divergence from the values on which the European Union is founded.
In light of the recent tendencies, including IOC's decisions of the 7th of May3 and 7th of July4, and
while continuing to respect the autonomy of sports organisations, we would ask the European
1 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/06/18/european-council-conclusions-on-ukraine-and-on-european-defence-
and-security/
2 Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Culture and Sport) - Consilium
3 IOC no longer recommends restrictions on Belarusian athletes’ participation
4
https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-provisionally-lifts-suspension-of-russian-olympic-committee-recommendations-to-ifs-with-regard-to-
russian-athletes-participation-no-longer-applicable
Suur-Karja 23 / 15076 Tallinn, Estonia / + 372 628 2222 /
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Commission to consider the necessary steps to ensure that organisations whose actions are
inconsistent with the values of the European Union do not benefit from EU financial support. This
should include, in particular, funding under the Erasmus+ programme and other relevant EU
programmes, and to ensure that they do not play a prominent role in relevant EU forums and
cooperation platforms, including the EU Sport Forum.
It is regrettable that such measures should need to be considered. However, where these
organisations choose not to uphold the values that the European Union seeks to promote and
defend, access to EU funding and related benefits should remain suspended until
they demonstrate a renewed commitment to those principles.
Yours sincerely,
Ms. Zenia Stampe Ms. Raminta Popovienė
Minister for Culture Minister of Education, Science and Sport
Denmark Lithuania
Ms. Heidy Purga Ms. Mirjam Sterk
Minister of Culture Minister of Long-term Care, Youth and
Estonia Sport
The Netherlands
Mr. Mika Poutala Mr. Jakub Rutnicki
Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Minister of Sport and Tourism
Activity Poland
Finland
Ms. Ilze Indriksone Mr. Constantin – Bogdan Matei
Minister of Education and Science President of the National Sports Agency
Latvia Romania
Mr. Jakob Forssmed
Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health
Sweden