The annual congress of the European Cycling Union (ECU) took place in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) on Sunday, with 35 national federations in attendance. This was the 36th edition of the Congress. Relations with the International Cycling Union (UCI) were strengthened by the presence of UCI President David Lappartient. 

The members discussed all the initiatives taken during the past season, with a particular focus on the new events for 2024, as well as the usual ordinary administrative matters (approval of balances, budgets, calendars for the coming seasons, etc.). 

The reports by ECU President Enrico Della Casa, General Secretary Alasdair MacLennan and Treasurer Henrik Jess Jensen were unanimously approved by the delegates of the federations present. The relationship with the UCI and the World Cycling Centre will allow ECU to continue certain initiatives for its national federations, such as youth and technical training and new events such as the European Junior Cyclocross Cup.

"I'm proud to preside over such an active and dynamic confederation and I am optimistic about the future, without forgetting the past and the values of our sport," said ECU President Enrico Della Casa. "The UCI has many projects and ambitions. We will strive to develop our European championships and cups, while remaining faithful to our national federations, which are doing remarkable work in this area. There is a lot of work to be done in the future; it will be an intense journey and also an exciting challenge, but I am confident that we will achieve all the goals we have set ourselves," he said.

"In a year's time, the mandate we have been given will come to an end in 2021 and the UCI's Management Board will have to be renewed. I am announcing today that I will stand again for the presidency of our confederation, because I want to continue my long-term commitment to cycling and to the international governance of cycling," said Della Casa. 

During the Congress, Gold Licences were awarded to Artur Lopes (Portugal), former President of the Portuguese Cycling Federation and Honorary Member of the UCI, and Jean-Pierre Strebel (Switzerland), former Financial Director of the UCI and founder of the Aigle World Cycling Centre. Daniela Isetti of Italy, Bob Howden of Great Britain, Raivo Rand of Estonia, Henrik Jess Jensen of Denmark and George Georgiou of Cyprus were also honoured with EUC awards. The next EUC Congress is scheduled for 9 March 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.