19 new nations joined the European Esports Federation (EEF – Esports Europe) bringing the total number of national members to 40; EEF Congress elects new leadership to further develop Esports in Europe

The European Esports Federation (EEF) now represents 41 European countries after 18 new countries joined the institution, making EEF the largest community-driven non-profit Esports movement in Europe and the largest continental Esports Federation in the world.

New Leadership Elected as Esports Europe’s 2022 Agenda Unfolds

The new leadership of EEF will solidify the vision of the institution in several areas but mostly at a grassroots level, kickstarting several educational projects and community outreach programs, as well as the establishment of internal institutions to activate those programs. Establishing the European Esports Championship as the main national team’s competition in Europe is also one of the biggest challenges and goals of EEF.

The EEF General Meeting was hosted by the Israeli Esports Association in the city of Eilat, Israel.

Mr. Ido Brosh, President of the Israeli Esports Association, was elected President of the European Esports Federation. Mr. Brosh (26) has years of experience in the Esports industry from a community and tournament organization perspective and had also served as a Board Member of the International Esports Federation (IESF).

“Esports Europe had seen a rocky start following the COVID-19 challenges we had to face since inception. Our current task is to restructure and rebuild the organization to fulfill our original purpose and vision: to further strengthen the growth of Esports in Europe, as well as Europe in the Esports World, and to provide the best possible services to the Esports communities and players from most professional to the amateur levels, and create a platform for pan-industrial collaboration models between publishers, professional clubs, amateur teams, small and large, tournament organizers, players, and governmental institutions,” said Ido Brosh.

Tiago Fernandes, current President of the Portuguese Esports Federation, was elected Vice President by the new Board of EEF, following his election as a Board Member. Fernandes has extensive experience in the gaming and tech space working with brands, players, clubs, and tournament organizers.

According to Tiago Fernandes, “the development of grassroots in Europe and closing the widening gap between it and the pro level will be one of the main focuses of the EEF. For that goal we will have to work closely with the publishers, government entities, and, especially, with the community – players, managers, organizations, and tournament organizers.”

The General Meeting had also elected Mr. Karol Cagan (Slovakia), Mr. Boban Totovski (North Macedonia), Mr. Ramil Aliyev (Azerbaijan), Mr. Giulio Cecilenny (Italy), and Mr. Ivan Danishevsky (Ukraine) to serve as members of the Board, while Mr. Konstantine Surkont (Russia, Chairman of the Advisory Committee), Mr. Eduard Anokhin (Ukraine), Mr. Chris Jonasson (Sweden), Mr. Jacopo Lerussi (Italy), and Mr. Balázs Bíró (Hungary) make up the EEF’s Advisory Committee, which serves to ensure all EEF institutions are working in full transparency and are compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.

A Unified Vision for European Esports

The European Esports Federation, commonly referred to as “Esports Europe”, was established by prominent national Esports movements in Europe, following two years of discussions and preparations.

The organization was first established in 2020 in Brussels, Belgium, in an inaugural meeting taking place in the European Parliament in Brussels, and hosted by the Belgian Esports Federation.

Esports Europe aims to present a unifying vision for Esports in Europe to unite and align all key stakeholders of Esports with specific attention to the underlying values of the European communities: transparency, fair play, sportsmanship, human values, and inclusiveness.

Notably, Esports Europe membership includes prominent Esports tournament organizers such as ESL and ESFORCE, alongside national Esports associations and federations in the European Neighbourhood, some of which are recognized by their local sporting authorities as to the official Esports body that administers Esports in their respective country.

Esports Europe represents the interest of European Esports communities in the institutions of the International Esports Federation (IESF).