In April 2026, EASE travelled to Cyprus for a series of strategic meetings and exchanges held in the framework of the 2026 EU Sport Forum in Paphos.
This visit represented an important opportunity for EASE to strengthen its links with the Cypriot sport ecosystem, better understand the specific realities of sport in Cyprus, and contribute to wider European discussions on the future of the sport sector.
Discovering the Cypriot Sport Ecosystem in Nicosia
EASE officially launched its Cyprus visit in Nicosia, with several meetings dedicated to understanding the national sport movement and exploring future cooperation opportunities.
The first exchange took place with Sotiris Themistokleous from the Center for Social Innovation. As an organisation highly active at European level, CSI provided valuable insights into the Cypriot landscape and opened promising avenues for future collaboration, particularly in relation to the promotion of the Cypriot voice within European projects.
EASE also had the pleasure of meeting with Efstathios Christodoulides from UCLan Cyprus, Olia Tsivitanidou, Director at INQUIRY FUSE LTD, and Antonis Alexopoulos from PASYPEFAA. These discussions allowed EASE to gain a deeper understanding of the structure, characteristics and current challenges of the Cypriot sport sector.
In particular, the exchanges highlighted important issues linked to physical education teachers, coaching professions, and the European regulatory framework surrounding sport-related occupations. These discussions confirmed the need to further connect national realities with European-level reflection on employment, skills, professionalisation and social dialogue in sport.
EASE at the 2026 EU Sport Forum in Paphos
EASE then took part in the 2026 EU Sport Forum, held in Paphos, Cyprus. The Forum brought together key sport stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the future of EU sport policy, the main challenges facing the sector, and opportunities for cooperation at European level.
Over two days, EASE had the opportunity to attend high-level discussions, athlete interviews, peer learning sessions and exchanges with European institutions, sport organisations and policy stakeholders.
The Forum provided a valuable space to reflect on major priorities for the European sport sector, including the European Sport Model, sport governance, physical activity as a public health priority, mental health, inclusion, Mediterranean cooperation, and the role of sport in society.
EASE particularly welcomed the discussions led by European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, whose intervention underlined the importance of preserving and strengthening the European model of sport. For EASE, these exchanges once again confirmed that sport has a central role to play in European societies, far beyond competition alone.
They also reaffirmed the importance of social dialogue as a key instrument for structuring and strengthening the sport sector at European level.
Strengthening Ties with Cypriot Football
On the margins of the EU Sport Forum, EASE also had the pleasure of meeting with the Cyprus Football Association.
This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to explore potential avenues for cooperation and to gain deeper insights into the structure and dynamics of the Cypriot sport economy.
The discussions highlighted the specific position of Cyprus, located at the crossroads of Europe and neighbouring regions, and the opportunities this creates for the development of sport. They also confirmed the importance of building direct dialogue with national stakeholders in order to better understand local realities and support the structuring of the sport sector across Europe.
EASE warmly thanks the Cyprus Football Association for the quality of the exchange and looks forward to continuing the dialogue in the near future.
Promoting Social Dialogue and European Cooperation in Sport
Throughout its Cyprus visit, EASE’s objective was clear: to listen, understand, connect and build bridges.
By meeting national stakeholders, engaging with Cypriot sport organisations and participating in the EU Sport Forum, EASE continued its mission to strengthen the representation of sport employers and contribute to the development of a more structured, sustainable and inclusive sport sector in Europe.
The visit also confirmed that Cyprus has an important role to play in European sport discussions. Its sport ecosystem, its geographical position and its links with wider regional dynamics make it a valuable partner in shaping the future of European cooperation in sport.
For EASE, this mission to Cyprus marks another important step in the association’s broader strategy: bringing national sport realities into European dialogue, supporting the professionalisation of the sector, and ensuring that sport employers are fully part of the conversations shaping the future of sport in Europe.
EASE would like to thank all the organisations and stakeholders met during this visit for their warm welcome, their openness and the quality of the discussions.
The dialogue has started — and EASE looks forward to building concrete cooperation with Cypriot partners in the months ahead.