The EOC EU Office aims to monitor, identify and analyze all issues of relevance to sport at the European level, while representing the interests of the Olympic movement before EU institutions. From Brussels, this office acts as a permanent observatory of political decisions that can influence governance, funding, sustainability and the future of sport in Europe.The relationship between sport and European public policy is becoming increasingly close, although it often remains invisible to those who only observe what happens on the fields and in the stadiums. This growing connection was formally reinforced by Astrit Hasani, President of the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF), and Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees, who signed a strategic agreement linking European weightlifting directly with the institutional framework of the European Union. Behind every regulation, every funding line and every development program, there is an institutional network working to ensure that sport is considered in the decisions made in Brussels. In this context, the EOC EU Office has established itself as a strategic bridge between the European Olympic movement and the institutions of the European Union.
In this framework, the EWF took an important institutional step by becoming an associated partner of this office as of January 1, 2026. More than an administrative decision, this move places European weightlifting at the core of where policies, regulatory frameworks and funding opportunities are defined, directly impacting the development of the sport across the continent.
A link that brings weightlifting closer to the political heart of European sport.
A link that brings weightlifting closer to the political heart of European sport
The EOC EU Office aims to monitor, identify and analyze all issues of relevance to sport at the European level, while representing the interests of the Olympic movement before EU institutions. From Brussels, this office acts as a permanent observatory of political decisions that can influence governance, funding, sustainability and the future of sport in Europe.
By joining as an associated partner, the EWF not only gains access to strategic information but also enters a privileged circuit of analysis and representation. Through monthly reports in German, English and French, sport policy papers, memos on current issues and weekly updates, the federation will be able to anticipate scenarios, understand the impact of European decisions and align its institutional planning with the continent’s political context.
Information, advisory support and direct presence in Brussels
The agreement also includes in-person activities and personalized advisory support that reinforce the practical value of this partnership. The EWF will take part in the Annual Partner Meeting and the Special Competence Seminar, spaces designed for knowledge exchange among federations and experts in European sport policies, where topics range from regulatory frameworks to European Union funding opportunities.
In addition, the federation will receive individual advice on EU policies and support to organize and carry out lobbying visits to Brussels, even using the facilities of the office itself. This support allows European weightlifting not only to observe political decision-making from a distance, but to actively participate in the dialogue, defend its interests and strengthen its position within the European sport ecosystem.
On behalf of the European Weightlifting Federation, Denise Offermann and Stian Grimseth will act as project coordinators for the Erasmus+ Programme and other related initiatives. Their first working meeting is scheduled to take place in Brussels in the second week of March 2026.
