Objective and Goals
Advancing the rights and interests of athletes and players in Europe.
European Athletes and Players Association (EAPA) was founded in 2008 under the name of European Elite Athlete Association (EU Athletes). Our mission is to unite and support member associations to make them stronger, and to advance the rights and interests of the European athletes and players.
EAPA is the leading multi-sport federation of athlete and player associations (sports trade unions) with 28 members in 15 European countries. More than 25,000 elite athletes are represented through the membership.
Find out more about our members here.
The objective of European Athletes and Players Association is:
- to promote or stimulate solidarity and cooperation between athlete and player associations and sport organizations at national and international level
- to provide a platform on which athlete and player associations can exchange ideas and best practices
- to represent the collective voice of European athletes
- to defend and promote the rights and interest of sportsmen and women.
EAPA is also integrated into the wider labour movement as a member the World Players Association, the professional sports sector of UNI Global Union.
EAPA is a recognized stakeholder in the sport sector at the European level. Since 2012, we have been represented on a several Council of Europe and European Union’s expert and working groups and other bodies, dealing with topics such as good governance, match-fixing, anti-doping, integrity, dual careers, gender equality and economic dimension of sport. EU Athletes is also a member of the Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) Consultative Committee.
EAPA is also an experienced coordinator of projects co-financed by the European Union. EU Athletes has successfully implemented several projects aiming to educate athletes on the risks of match fixing, to develop player associations support for dual career or to improve the support that the player associations provide for women athletes.
A leading role in the defense of athletes rights.
EAPA policy is elaborated and adopted by the members. The 2022 Common Position Paper defines organization’s priorities and highlights the following 12 key areas of work where EAPA is pushing for change for the benefit of athletes and the sport itself :
1. Athlete rights are human rights
2. Athletes as workers
3. Good governance in sport
4. Economic dimension of sport
5. Match-fixing
6. Anti-doping
7. Dual career, personal development and wellbeing
8. Access to justice
9. Women’s sport
10. Recovery and sustainability of the sport sector
11. ‘European Sport Model’ according to organised athletes
12. Solidarity, partnerships and cooperation
The work of EAPA is strongly related to the defense and promotion of athletes’ interests and fundamental rights.
EAPA has also been involved in the case related to the International Skating Union’s eligibility rules and the right of athletes to take part in commercial events organized by independent parties. EAPA and its members encouraged and supported the fight of Mark Tuitert and Niels Kershtolt against the ISU with the campaign “#Chance To Compete”.