Suur-Karja 23 / 15076 Tallinn, Estonia / + 372 628 2222 / [email protected] / www.kul.ee / Registration No 70000941

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

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

Minister for Culture

Denmark

Ms. Raminta Popovienė

Minister of Education, Science and Sport

Lithuania

Ms. Heidy Purga

Minister of Culture

Estonia

Ms. Mirjam Sterk

Minister of Long-term Care, Youth and

Sport

The Netherlands

Mr. Mika Poutala

Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical

Activity

Finland

Mr. Jakub Rutnicki

Minister of Sport and Tourism

Poland

Ms. Ilze Indriksone

Minister of Education and Science

Latvia

Mr. Constantin – Bogdan Matei

President of the National Sports Agency

Romania

Mr. Jakob Forssmed Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health

Sweden