In the organization’s 2025 Congress meeting, European Aquatics (EA) greenlighted the relocation of its headquarters from Nyon, Switzerland to Belgrade, Serbia.
At the Congress, which took place in Tlibisi, Georgia, EA finalized legal steps on their end to relocate from the city that’s hosted the organization since 2015. The ball is now in the court of Serbian parliament, which must pass a law to make the move possible. If approved, EA will have an Extraordinary Congress to work out final negotiations.
With this decision, it joins World Aquatics in uprooting out of Switzerland to a different European country. Last year, World Aquatics opened up an interim office in Budapest as it works to fully transition to the Hungarian capital.
Characterized by its diplomatic and economic stability, Switzerland hosts many of the world’s biggest sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee and FIFA.
Switzerland’s prime location comes at the cost of some of Europe’s most expensive real estate, wages, and cost of living. World Aquatics’ move to Budapest will reportedly save $300 million over 30 years. Aquatic organizations seemingly want to obviate Switzerland’s expenses while moving administration closer to the action of the sports. In Budapest, this action is in the renowned Danube Arena. Belgrade, meanwhile, is home to the Milan Gale Muškatirović Sports Centre, which recently hosted the 2024 European Aquatics Championships.
In the aquatics world, Serbia finds its strongest asset in its men’s water polo team, who are the 3x-defending Olympic champions. The Balkan country’s best-known swimmer is Milorad Cavic, who lost to Michael Phelps in the 100 fly by .01 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“The process to consider moving to a new home for European Aquatics has taken a year to date and has been a fair and transparent process based on a rigorous methodology,” said EA president Antonio Silva. “(It) assessed the value of offers based on the location’s accessibility, facilities, level of financial support, local conditions and quality of life.”
Other 2025 EA Congress News
- Germany will host the 2026 European Junior Championships from July 7 – July 12 (pool swimming)
- Budapest will welcome junior European stars for championships in diving, open water, and for the first time, high diving, next summer
- AquaSafe Kids Project, a 400,000 euro Erasmus+ program, was approved by the European Commission
- EA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Special Olympics. At the 4th stop of the European Open Water Cup in Barcelona earlier this month, Special Olympics athletes competed.
I wonder about the tax difference. Both countries I believe are in the EU but have different cost of living.
They’re not EU countries. Comparing tax rates between the two countries is complex. I’m not an accountant, but I have to imagine the volume of tax will be lower in Serbia regardless of rates, just because it costs so much less to operate there.
Jokic influence is crazy
Never thought I’d see a joker reference in my swimming comments
Would it not some or several advantages to have had World Aquatics and European Aquatics in the same city, ex Budapest?
Thinking financial and administrative.