The 180th European Athletics Council Meeting took place in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on 24–25 April, bringing together the European Athletics leadership to review progress across the sport and take key strategic decisions for the years ahead.
Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the two-day meeting was structured across four working sessions, opening on Friday (24) morning and concluding on Saturday (25) afternoon. Discussions spanned governance, competitions, development initiatives, financial oversight, and the continued evolution of European Athletics’ strategic priorities.
Event updates
The meeting began with formalities including the opening remarks and approval of the agenda, followed by a report from European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov. His update covered recent travels, engagement with the World Athletics Council, and broader organisational developments shaping the continental athletics landscape.
A substantial portion of the agenda focused on events and competitions. Council members reviewed reports from the Event & Competition Commission, examined qualification systems for upcoming championships in 2027, and discussed updates to competition regulations and officiating appointments.
Progress reports were also delivered on the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, highlighting operational readiness and planning milestones.
Major events awarded
In terms of major event allocations, the Council awarded the 2028 European Athletics Championships to Silesia, Poland.
The 2027 SPAR European Cross Country Championships were awarded to Glasgow, United Kingdom, after both bidders delivered compelling presentations.
In addition, the previous day saw the European Athletics Executive Board confirm the allocation of the newly-renamed European Trail Running Championships to Villars, Switzerland in 2028 and European Race Walking Team Championships to Serres, Greece in 2027.
Development and Finance
Development initiatives also featured prominently, with updates on mentoring programmes, the Future Leaders Forum, and sustainability efforts aimed at strengthening the athletics community across member federations. Governance matters included proposals relating to election procedures, regulatory updates, and the integration of human rights principles into the European Athletics constitution.
Financial oversight formed another key pillar of the meeting, with Council reviewing the 2025 audit report, financial results, and mid-term planning through to 2027. Marketing and commercial activities were also discussed as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the sport’s visibility and commercial sustainability.
Progress
Reflecting on the outcomes of the meeting, President Karamarinov said: “We continue to build a strong and forward-looking foundation for athletics in Europe, as we progress along the European Athletics Strategic Roadmap.
“The decisions taken in Birmingham demonstrate our commitment to innovation, good governance, and delivering high-quality events that inspire athletes and fans alike.”
Meanwhile, Christian Milz European Athletics CEO praised the progress of the gathering. “We had a very productive European Athletics Council meeting in Birmingham, with key decisions taken on the allocation of our major events," he said.
"A central focus was the latest progress towards the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026, our flagship event and the pinnacle of the season, set to be the biggest and most spectacular athletics event this year.
"Earlier in the week, we also brought our community together through a Communications Seminar and Sponsors Workshop, creating strong alignment and reinforcing our shared ambition for the future.
We now look forward to returning to Birmingham for what promises to be an outstanding celebration of our sport.”
The meeting concluded with a summary of key decisions and confirmation of the date and venue for the next Council gathering which will in Lausanne, Switzerland on 21-22 October, Lausanne (SUI).
