CONCLUSIONS OF THE MEETING
OF THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR SPORTS

Nicosia 1st June 2009

The Small States of Europe Ministers Responsible for Sports have had an Informal Meeting on Sports addressing the issue of "DUAL TRAINING FOR HIGH LEVEL SPORTS PEOPLE" at the presence of representatives from the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Olympic Committees and the European Women & Sports Committee, within the framework of the XIII Games of Small States of Europe, which have taken place in Cyprus from 1st to 6th June 2009, and they ascertain the following points:

1. They note that the Small States of Europe are greatly wishing to deal with the athletes' further education while these athletes are pursuing their sport career,
2. They recognise that the universities, academic and vocational institutions of the countries, the national sport authorities, the National Olympic Committees and the National Sport Federations should play an important role in the effort made to achieve dual Education for top level athletes, while they valorise the International Sport Federations and the International Olympic Committee educational fields,
3. They stress the need for setting up a co-operation network among the States, the Sport Federations and the Educational Establishments, aiming at ensuring the implementation of a Common Dual Education Planning for high level sports people, interuniversity programmes is an option that may be considered
4. They valorise e-learning in athletes' education,
5. They support the effort to apply a Vocational Qualifications Frame in the sport field,
6. They consider that they should allocate funds, within the framework of a wider sports funding scheme by the States, to dual education projects.
7. Career educational advisors
8. They appreciate the big contribution of the Council of Europe with respect to the effort made throughout time to promote comprehensive sport policies with standards such as the European Sport Charter and welcome that the EPAS (Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sports) could serve to exchange good practices and develop pan-European co-operation on athletes' dual training.
9. They welcome the European Commission initiative to get actively involved in enhancing the top athletes' Dual Training, especially the setting up of an EU working group on Education and Training in Sport.
10. Establish a working group of the small states that would elaborate on the ideas advanced here and co-ordinate initiatives.