Official: North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia submitted a joint bid for EHF EURO 2034

The handball federations of Serbia, North Macedonia and Slovenia have officially submitted a joint bid to host the men's EHF EURO 2034.

The three federations, with a long handball tradition, announced a joint project that, they say, meets the conditions and standards of the European Handball Federation and has the necessary infrastructure, accommodation and organizational capacities to host a major European championship.

Bid emphasizing experience and capacity

The president of the Handball Federation of Serbia, Bozidar Gjurkovic, emphasized:

"After a series of meetings and agreements we reached, the moment has come for all three federations to officially submit a joint bid to host EHF EURO 2034. I believe that all three federations have the organizational capacities, experience and human resources to organize such a major competition at the highest level. Our bid covers the full infrastructure needed to stage the championship, from sports halls and hotels to all other segments necessary for hosting a major international competition. I believe our joint bid will be the most serious. At this moment it is difficult to talk about whether there will be other bids and what the final decision of the EHF will be, but what I can say is that we will do everything together to present our bid in the best possible way and to show the EHF that we are the best solution to host such a large event."

The president of the Handball Federation of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Stefanov, added:

"It is a special honor and pleasure for me that the Handball Federation of North Macedonia is taking another significant step forward and that, together with the handball federations of Serbia and Slovenia, it is participating in a joint bid to host the men's EHF EURO 2034. I believe that all three federations, with their rich experience, capacities and handball tradition, have all the prerequisites to meet the requirements and standards of the European Handball Federation and to successfully organize a European Championship at the highest level. North Macedonia is a handball country. For decades handball has been deeply rooted in our sporting tradition and history, creating generations of successful handball players. With its popularity, as well as with results achieved at European and world level, I can confidently say that handball is the number one sport in North Macedonia and that remains the case. For us this bid is an opportunity for another significant step and confirmation that North Macedonia has the capacity to be part of organizing the biggest European handball events. We hope our joint bid will earn trust and that in 2034, together with Serbia and Slovenia, we will be successful hosts of the EHF EURO."

The president of the Handball Federation of Slovenia, Bor Rozman, stressed:

"The desire of the handball federations of Slovenia, Serbia and North Macedonia is to jointly organize the men's European Championship EHF EURO 2034, because we believe that for such a project we have a lot of knowledge, experience, quality infrastructure and, above all, a strong handball tradition. We have expressed our joint intention before the European Handball Federation, and ahead of us is a period in which all three federations will closely cooperate and jointly invest all necessary efforts to prepare a quality and competitive bid. Our goal is to present a project to the EHF that will show we can organize a European Championship at the highest level and offer excellent conditions to the national teams and fans. All three federations are prepared to cooperate with each other as well as with all competent institutions and the cities that will be included in the project, because it far exceeds the boundaries of sport and brings numerous positive effects to the host countries and cities, which I believe we will all utilize in the best possible way. Of course, we also have high competitive ambitions, for which we have a basis in the current results of the senior national team, as well as the youth and cadet selections this summer. For many of their members, in eight years it will be the right time to shine on the senior stage."

The federations announce close cooperation with cities and competent institutions in each of the three countries and say they will prepare the bid as a competitive project before the EHF, highlighting the expected sporting and economic benefits for hosts and fans.

Photo: press material from the event