The Euro Paddle Pass core group gathered in Milan, Italy, on 12–13 March 2026, hosted by Federazione Italiana Canoa Kayak (FICK). Representatives from ten national federations joined in person or online for two days of focused work on technical development, organisational matters, and planning for the year ahead.
Technical work in full swing
A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to advancing the EPP technical framework. Several working groups presented their progress, and the group engaged in substantive discussions on how the framework is structured, how changes are communicated, and how consistency can be maintained across disciplines and levels. Important decisions were reached on a number of framework elements, and new working groups were established to take on further development tasks.
Among the topics discussed were new and emerging disciplines, safety-related additions to the framework, approaches to inclusive and adapted paddling, and the ongoing development of flatwater and touring content. The group also explored how the concepts of shared core skills and discipline-specific additional skillsets can best be expressed across the framework.
Planning for benchmark and future meetings
The core group confirmed plans for the upcoming EPP Benchmark in autumn 2026, to be held in Ireland.
Disciplines for assessment are going to be Sea Kayak level 3 and Stand Up Paddle (SUP) level 3.
Election
At the close of the meeting, the core group held its election. Christian Jacobsen was re-elected as Chair, Anders Danielsen as Treasurer, and Morten Ib Juul Madsen as Secretary. The group extends its congratulations to all three on their continued roles.
Thank you to our Italian hosts
The core group extends its warm thanks to FICK and the team in Milan for their hospitality and excellent organisation of the meeting venue.
Morten Ib Juul Madsen, EPP secretary
