MEP Nikos Pappas (The Left) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission, raising concerns about the use of EU funds for private sports sponsorship and its impact on the integrity of the European sports model. The question, filed on 27 April 2026, cites recent reports that Qualco, a company benefiting from significant public contracts co-financed by EU funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, is the exclusive sponsor of the Athinaikos WBC women's basketball team, having acquired naming rights. Pappas argues this creates private advantages, distorts competition among clubs, and undermines transparency.
The question contains three concrete asks. First, Pappas requests the Commission to explain how it ensures that EU funds are not used, directly or indirectly, for private promotion activities such as sports club sponsorship. Second, he asks under what conditions such channelling of funds by companies dependent on public contracts could constitute indirect state aid under Article 107 TFEU. Third, he calls for measures to enhance transparency, prevent conflicts of interest, and protect the balance and social dimension of European sports.
Policy orientation and ambition Pappas's question signals a push for stricter oversight of EU-funded public contracts, particularly regarding their downstream use for commercial sponsorship. He advocates for clearer rules to prevent conflicts of interest and to safeguard the European sports model, which emphasises solidarity and fair competition. The question implies that current transparency and state aid rules may be insufficient to address cases where public money indirectly benefits private sports entities.
Expected follow-up The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it sees a need for regulatory action or considers existing rules adequate. The response could signal the Commission's stance on the boundary between legitimate corporate sponsorship and potential misuse of EU funds, as well as its willingness to tighten transparency requirements for public contract beneficiaries. Stakeholders impacted include EU taxpayers, small sports clubs, companies holding public contracts, and EU regulatory bodies overseeing state aid and competition.
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