The Slovakian capital Bratislava was the setting for two major UEFA events on the 25th and Monday the 26th of February – the latest UEFA Executive Committee meeting and the 42nd Ordinary UEFA Congress.
The Executive Committee meeting, chaired by the UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, was held at the city’s Grand Hotel River Park, and, among other items on the agenda, was invited to approve the fifth cycle of UEFA’s HatTrick assistance programme in favor of its 55 member associations. HatTrick V will run from 2020 to 2024.
Launched in 2004, HatTrick is funded from UEFA EURO revenue and has become one of the largest solidarity and development initiatives ever to be established by a sports body.
The programme has supported the UEFA member associations in developing themselves and their football infrastructure – helping to build pitches, stadiums, training centers and headquarter offices throughout Europe. In addition, the Executive Committee was requested to approve the prize money for UEFA EURO 2020, which will be staged in 12 cities across Europe in two summers’ time. Approval of various competition regulations was also on the agenda.
On Monday, UEFA and its member associations gathered at the Incheba Expo in Bratislava for this year’s Ordinary UEFA Congress – Europe’s annual football parliament. Elections were the key item on the agenda. Association delegates voted to elect one member of the UEFA Executive Committee for a one-year term, as well as one European FIFA vice-president on the FIFA Council, also for a one-year term.
The Congress also ratified a representative of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) as a full member of the Executive Committee – a further step in UEFA’s move to enhance the role of important stakeholders in European football’s decision-making process. Two members of the European Club Association (ECA) already serve on the Executive Committee.
In other Congress business, the application of the Jersey Football Association for UEFA membership was put to the vote, the 2016/17 financial statements and the 2018/19 budget was presented for approval, amendments to the UEFA Statutes were proposed, and the 2016/17 UEFA President and Executive Committee Report and the Report of the UEFA Administration were submitted for approval.
The 42nd Ordinary UEFA Congress that took place in Bratislava was streamed live on UEFA.com and Facebook, as was the press conference.
Rome, Italy will stage the next UEFA Congress on 7 February 2019.
