View source for European Handball Federation

{{Short description|Voluntary association}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox national sports federations
| name = European Handball Federation
| abbr = EHF
| logo = Logo EHF.svg
| logosize = 250px
| url = www.EuroHandball.com
| sport = [[Handball]]
| othersport1 = [[Beach handball]]
| othersport2 = [[Wheelchair handball]]
| historytitle = History 
| founded = {{Start date and age|1991|11|17|df=y}} <br /> [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] 
| demographicstitle = Demographics 
| membership_size = [[#Affiliated Members|52 Members]] {{small|(50 full, 2 associate)}}
| affiliations title = Affiliations 
| IF = [[International Handball Federation]]
| IF_abbr = IHF
| IF_joined = 1992 
| other_aff1 = 
| other_aff2 = 
| electedtitle = Governance
| patron = 
| president = [[Michael Wiederer]]
| chair = 
| board_type = Vice-President
| board1 = [[Predrag Bošković]]
| sectitle = Secretariat 
| address1 = Hoffingergasse 18, 1120 [[Vienna]]
| country = [[Austria]]
| staff_pos2 = Official Language(s)
| staff_name2 = [[English language|English]]
| staff_pos1 = Secretary General
| staff_name1 = Martin Hausleitner
| staff_pos3 = 
|staff_name3 = 
| staff_number = 69
| financetitle = Finance 
| company_status = 
| operating_income = 
| sponsors = [[Infront Sports & Media]] <br /> [[DAZN]] <br /> [[Hummel International|hummel]] <br /> Gerflor Group <br /> Select <br /> Sport Radar 
}}

The '''European Handball Federation''' ('''EHF''') is the [[umbrella organisation]] for [[Europe]]an [[handball]]. Founded on 17 November 1991, it is made of 50 member federations and two associated federations (England and Scotland), and is headquartered in [[Vienna]], Austria.

==History==
EHF was founded on 17 November 1991 in [[Berlin]], Germany, although the first EHF Congress convened on 5 June 1992 and assigned EHF's headquarters to [[Vienna]], Austria, from 1 September that year.

In 2012, the EHF Office celebrated 20 years since it first opened its doors.<ref>{{cite web|title=EHF Office celebrates 20 years in Vienna|url=http://www.eurohandball.com/article/015385/EHF+Office+celebrates+20+years+in+Vienna|publisher=European Handball Federation|access-date=1 September 2012}}</ref> In the subsequent years, the number of member countries has expanded from the initial 29 to its current number of 50, after Kosovo was granted full membership at the EHF Congress in Dublin, Ireland, in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kosovo becomes a full member of the European Handball Federation|url=http://www.eurohandball.com/article/020219/Kosovo+becomes+a+full+member+of+the+European+Handball+Federation|publisher=European Handball Federation|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> The EHF represents its members in the [[Business development|development]] of the sport both in terms of grassroots talent, as well as commercial growth. EHF-organised events such as the Men's and Women's European Handball Championships and the EHF Champions League represent major revenue contributors, while initiatives such as [[beach handball]] and handball at school expand the attraction of the sport.

===After-effects of Russian invasion of Ukraine===
After Russia launched the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the European Handball Federation in February 2022 suspended Russia and Belarus both in competitions for national teams and on club level.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1121028/russia-appeal-rejected-ehf-court|title=EHF Court of Handball rejects Russia appeal against ban|date=25 March 2022|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.handball-world.news/en/news-2-1-3-140109.html|title=European Handball Federation suspends Russia and Belarus|website=handball-world}}</ref> It suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus as well as Russian and Belarusian clubs competing in European handball competitions.<ref name="handball-planet.com">>{{Cite web|url=https://www.handball-planet.com/russia-and-belarus-suspended-by-ehf/|title=Russia and Belarus suspended by EHF|date=1 March 2022|website=Handball Planet}}</ref> Referees, officials, and commission members from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future activities.<ref name="handball-planet.com"/> And new organisers will be sought for the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO and the Qualifier Tournaments for the Beach Handball EURO 2023, which were to be held in Moscow.<ref name="handball-planet.com"/> In addition, it refused to allow competitions to be held in Russia or Belarus.<ref name="auto1"/> The [[Russian Handball Federation]] failed in its appeal against the decision to exclude Russia's teams from continental competition, which was rejected by the European Handball Federation Court of Handball.<ref name="auto1"/>

==Presidents==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! S. No. !! Name !! Tenure
|-
| 1 || {{flagicon|SWE}} {{ill|Staffan Holmqvist|fr}} || 17 November 1991 – 18 December 2004 
|-
| 2 || {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Tor Lian]] || 18 December 2004 – 22 June 2012 
|-
| 3 || {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean Brihault]] || 22 June 2012 – 17 November 2016 
|-
| 4 || {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Michael Wiederer]] || 17 November 2016 – present 
|}

==Secretaries general==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! S. No. !! Name !! Tenure
|-
| 1 || {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Michael Wiederer]] || 1 September 1992 – 17 November 2016
|-
|colspan=4| ''{{align|center| Post vacant from 17 November 2016 to 1 August 2017}}''
|-
|2 || {{flagicon|AUT}} Martin Hausleitner || 1 August 2017 – present
|}

==EHF Executive Committee==
[[File:Plaquette EHF Europe, European Handball Federation in doos, objectnr KA 28529.12.jpg|thumb|Plaquette EHF Europe]]
The following is the EHF Executive Committee for the term 2021 – 2025.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Designation !! Name
|-
| '''President''' || {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Michael Wiederer]]
|-
| '''Vice-president''' || {{flagicon|MNE}} [[Predrag Bošković]]
|-
| '''Vice-president Finances''' || {{flagicon|DEN}} Henrik La Cour Laursen
|-
| '''Chairman of Competitions Commission''' || {{flagicon|SRB}} Božidar Đurković
|-
| '''Chairman of Methods Commission''' || {{flagicon|POR}} Pedro Sequeira
|-
| '''Chair of Beach Handball Commission''' || {{flagicon|HUN}} Gabriella Horváth
|-
|rowspan=3| '''Executive Members''' || {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Stefan Lövgren]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ESP}} Francisco V. Blázquez García
|-
| {{flagicon|SLO}} Franjo Bobinac
|- 
| '''Additional Representative''' || {{flagicon|NOR}} Bente Aksnes
|-
| '''Representative of Professional Handball Board''' || {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Xavier O'Callaghan|Xavier O'Callaghan Ferrer]]
|-
| '''Representative of Women's Handball Board''' || {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nodjialem Myaro]]
|-
| '''Representative of Nations Board''' || {{Flagicon|Germany}} [[:de:Mark_Schober|Mark Schober]]
|}

==Competitions==
Results history:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://history.eurohandball.com/|title=European Handball Federation – 2021|website=history.eurohandball.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/handball/Europe/index.html|title = Handball Europena Championships Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/handball/Europe/index_Women_Challenge.html|title = Women Handball European Challenge Championships Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/handball/Europe/index_Men_Challenge.html|title=Men Handball European Challenge Championships Archive|website=todor66.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurohandball.com/|title=European Handball Federation – Home of Handball &#124; EHF|website=eurohandball.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-sports.org/beach-handball-2021-women-s-u-17-european-championships-epr113006.html|title = Beach Handball – Women's U-17 European Championships 2021 – Summary of the current competition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-sports.org/beach-handball-2021-men-s-u-17-european-championships-epr113001.html|title = Beach Handball – Men's U-17 European Championships 2021 – Summary of the current competition}}</ref>

;European championships
*[[European Men's Handball Championship]]
*[[EHF Euro Cup]]
*[[European Women's Handball Championship]]
*[[Women's EHF Euro Cup]]
*[[European Men's U-20 Handball Championship]]
*[[European Women's U-19 Handball Championship]]
*[[European Men's U-18 Handball Championship]]
*[[European Women's U-17 Handball Championship]]
*[[European Open Handball Championship]]
*[[European Men's Beach Handball Championship]]
*[[European Women's Beach Handball Championship]]
*[[EHF Challenge Trophy]]
*[[European Men's Beach Handball Championship|European Beach Handball Championship]]
*[[European Beach Handball Tour]]
*[[European U19 Beach Handball Championship]]
*[[European U17 Beach Handball Championship]]
*[[European Handball Men's 19 EHF Championship]]
*[[European Handball Women's 19 EHF Championship]]
*[[2021 Men's IHF/EHF Trophy|EHF Trophy]]
*[[Women's Handball European Challenge Championships]]
*[[Men's Handball European Challenge Championships]]
*[[EHF Nations' Cup]] – Defunct

;Multi-sports events
*[[Handball at the European Youth Olympic Festival|European Youth Olympic Festival]]

;Men's club competitions
*[[EHF Champions League]]
*[[EHF European League]] (former EHF Cup)
*[[EHF Cup Winners' Cup]] (merged with the [[EHF Cup]] from the 2012–13 season<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/new-men-s-ehf-cup-starting/|title=New Men's EHF Cup starting|website=eurohandball.com}}</ref>)
*[[EHF European Cup]] (former EHF Challenge Cup and City Cup)
*[[European Beach Handball Tour]]
*[[EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup]]

;Women's club competitions
*[[Women's EHF Champions League]]
*[[Women's EHF European League]] (former Women's EHF Cup)
*[[Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup]] (merged with the [[Women's EHF Cup]] from the 2016–17 season)
*[[Women's EHF European Cup]] (former Women's EHF Challenge Cup and City Cup)
*[[European Beach Handball Tour]]
*[[EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup]]

==Medals==
Last Update: 15 August 2023

# [[European Men's Handball Championship]] (1994-2022) - 15 Editions
# [[European Women's Handball Championship]] (1994-2022) - 15 Editions
# [[European Men's U-20 Handball Championship]] (1996-2022) - 13 Editions
# [[European Women's U-19 Handball Championship]] (1996-2023) - 14 Editions
# [[European Men's U-18 Handball Championship]] (1992-2022) - 16 Editions
# [[European Women's U-17 Handball Championship]] (1992-2023) - 16 Editions
# [[European Men's Beach Handball Championship]] (2000-2023) - 13 Editions
# [[European Women's Beach Handball Championship]] (2000-2023) - 13 Editions

{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | show_limit     = 
 | remaining_text = 
 | flag_template  = 
 | event          = 
 | team           = 
 | gold_DEN = 19 | silver_DEN = 16 | bronze_DEN = 17
 | gold_RUS = 12 | silver_RUS = 18 | bronze_RUS = 10
 | gold_GER = 12 | silver_GER = 11 | bronze_GER = 8
 | gold_NOR = 12 | silver_NOR = 9  | bronze_NOR = 7
 | gold_ESP = 11 | silver_ESP = 14 | bronze_ESP = 12
 | gold_HUN = 10 | silver_HUN = 6  | bronze_HUN = 13
 | gold_SWE = 8  | silver_SWE = 7  | bronze_SWE = 5
 | gold_FRA = 9  | silver_FRA = 2  | bronze_FRA = 10
 | gold_CRO = 8  | silver_CRO = 10 | bronze_CRO = 8
 | gold_ROU = 3  | silver_ROU = 2  | bronze_ROU = 3
 | gold_SRB = 2  | silver_SRB = 2  | bronze_SRB = 5
 | gold_UKR = 2  | silver_UKR = 2  | bronze_UKR = 2 
 | gold_POR = 1  | silver_POR = 3  | bronze_POR = 0
 | gold_SLO = 1  | silver_SLO = 2  | bronze_SLO = 3
 | gold_BLR = 1  | silver_BLR = 1  | bronze_BLR = 1
 | gold_ISL = 1  | silver_ISL = 1  | bronze_ISL = 1
 | gold_POL = 1  | silver_POL = 1  | bronze_POL = 0
 | gold_ITA = 1  | silver_ITA = 0  | bronze_ITA = 2
 | gold_MNE = 1  | silver_MNE = 0  | bronze_MNE = 1
 | gold_NED = 0  | silver_NED = 4  | bronze_NED = 3
 | gold_CZE = 0  | silver_CZE = 2  | bronze_CZE = 0
 | gold_TUR = 0  | silver_TUR = 1  | bronze_TUR = 2
 | gold_LTU = 0  | silver_LTU = 1  | bronze_LTU = 0
 | gold_AUT = 0  | silver_AUT = 0  | bronze_AUT = 2 
}}

==Current title holders==
===Handball===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Competitions
!Current champion
!Title
|-
| [[European Men's Handball Championship]]
| {{hb|FRA}} (2024)
| 4th
|-
| [[European Women's Handball Championship]]
| {{hbw|NOR}} (2022)
| 9th
|-
| [[European Men's Junior Handball Championship]]
| {{hbj|ESP}} (2024)
| 4th
|-
| [[European Women's Junior Handball Championship]]
| {{hbwj|HUN}} (2023)
| 3rd
|-
| [[European Men's Youth Handball Championship]]
| {{hby|SWE}} (2024)
| 3rd
|-
| [[European Women's Youth Handball Championship]]
| {{hbwy|FRA}} (2023)
| 2nd
|-
| [[European Open Handball Championship|European Men's Open Handball Championship]]
| {{hby|FAR}} (2019)
| 1st
|-
| [[European Open Handball Championship|European Women's Open Handball Championship]]
| {{hbwy|HUN}} (2018)
| 1st
|-
| [[EHF Challenge Trophy|EHF Women's Challenge Trophy]]
| {{hbwj|Bosnia & Herzegovina}} (2018)
| 3rd
|-
| [[Handball at the European Youth Olympic Festival|European Youth Olympic Festival (Men's Event)]]
| {{hby|GER}} (2023)
| 3rd
|-
| [[Handball at the European Youth Olympic Festival|European Youth Olympic Festival (Women's Event)]]
| {{hbwy|FRA}} (2023)
| 2nd
|}

===Beach handball===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Competitions
!Current champion
!Title
|-
| [[European Men's Beach Handball Championship]]
| {{bhm|HUN}} (2023)
| 1st
|-
| [[European Women's Beach Handball Championship]]
| {{bhw|GER}} (2023)
| 3rd
|-
| [[European Men's Beach Handball Championship|European Men's Youth Beach Handball Championship]]
| {{bhm|SWE}} (2021)
| 1st
|-
| [[European Women's Beach Handball Championship|European Women's Youth Beach Handball Championship]]
| {{bhw|HUN}} (2021)
| 8th
|}

===Wheelchair handball===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Competitions
!Current champion
!Title
|-
| [[European Wheelchair Handball Nations' Tournament]]
| {{whb|CRO}} (2019)
| 1st
|}

===Club===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Competitions
!Current champion
!Title
|-
| [[EHF Champions League]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[FC_Barcelona_Handbol|Barcelona]] (2023–24)
| 12th
|-
| [[EHF European League]]
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Flensburg-Handewitt]] (2023–24)
| 3rd
|-
| [[EHF European Cup]]
| {{flagicon|ISL}} [[Valur_(men%27s_handball)|Valur]] (2023–24)
| 1st
|-
| [[Women's EHF Champions League]]
| {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Győri_ETO_KC|Győri Audi ETO]] (2023–24)
| 6th
|-
| [[Women's EHF European League]]
| {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Storhamar HE]] (2023–24)
| 1st
|-
| [[Women's EHF European Cup]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[CB_Elche|Atticgo Elche]] (2023–24)
| 1st
|}

==Affiliated Members==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|Albania}} [[Albanian Handball Federation|Albania]]
*{{flagicon|Andorra}} [[Andorran Handball Federation|Andorra]]
*{{flagicon|Armenia}} [[Armenian Handball Federation|Armenia]]
*{{flagicon|Austria}} [[Austrian Handball Federation|Austria]]
*{{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} [[Azerbaijan Handball Federation|Azerbaijan]]
*{{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Handball Federation of Belarus|Belarus]] (suspended)
*{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Royal Belgian Handball Federation|Belgium]]
*{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Handball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]]	
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Bulgarian Handball Federation|Bulgaria]]
*{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Croatian Handball Federation|Croatia]]
*{{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Cyprus Handball Federation|Cyprus]]
*{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Czech Handball Association|Czech Republic]]
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Danish Handball Federation|Denmark]]
*{{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Estonian Handball Association|Estonia]]
*{{flagicon|Faroe Islands}} [[Handball Federation of the Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]]
*{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Finnish Handball Association|Finland]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[French Handball Federation|France]]
*{{flagicon|Georgia}} [[Georgian National Handball Federation|Georgia]]
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[German Handball Association|Germany]]
*{{flagicon|Great Britain}} [[British Handball Association|Great Britain]]
*{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Hellenic Handball Federation|Greece]]
*{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Hungarian Handball Association|Hungary]]
*{{flagicon|Iceland}} [[Icelandic Handball Association|Iceland]]
*{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Irish Olympic Handball Association (IOHA)|Ireland]]
*{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Israel Handball Association|Israel]]
*{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italian Handball Federation|Italy]]
*{{flagicon|Kosovo}} [[Handball Federation of Kosovo|Kosovo]]
*{{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Latvian Handball Federation|Latvia]]
*{{flagicon|Liechtenstein}} [[Liechtenstein Handball Association|Liechtenstein]]
*{{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Lithuanian Handball Federation|Lithuania]]
*{{flagicon|Luxembourg}} [[Luxembourg Handball Federation|Luxembourg]]
*{{flagicon|Malta}} [[Malta Handball Association|Malta]]
*{{flagicon|Moldova}} [[Handball Federation of Moldova|Moldova]]
*{{flagicon|Monaco}} [[Monaco Handball Federation|Monaco]]
*{{flagicon|Montenegro}} [[Handball Federation of Montenegro|Montenegro]]
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Netherlands Handball Association|Netherlands]]
*{{flagicon|North Macedonia}} [[Macedonian Handball Federation|North Macedonia]]
*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norwegian Handball Federation|Norway]]
*{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Poland Handball Federation|Poland]]
*{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portuguese Handball Federation|Portugal]]
*{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Romanian Handball Federation|Romania]]
*{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Handball Union of Russia|Russia]] (suspended)
*{{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Serbian Handball Federation|Serbia]]
*{{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Slovak Handball Federation|Slovakia]]
*{{flagicon|Slovenia}} [[Handball Federation of Slovenia|Slovenia]]
*{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Royal Spanish Handball Federation|Spain]]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Swedish Handball Association|Sweden]]
*{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Swiss Handball Association|Switzerland]]
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkey Handball Federation|Turkey]]
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Handball Federation of Ukraine|Ukraine]]

'''Associated federations'''
*{{flagicon|England}} [[England Handball Association|England]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Scottish Handball Association|Scotland]]
{{div col end}}

==EHF European Championships==
The [[European Men's Handball Championship]] and [[European Women's Handball Championship]] are the flagship national team events of the European Handball Federation and rank amongst the leading indoor sports events on the international sports market. First played in 1994, the EHF EUROs have taken place in host nations across the continent on a biennial basis, with the men's event held in January and the women's in December.

The Men's EHF EURO 2012, held in Serbia, attracted a cumulative global TV audience of 1.47 billion, and was transmitted by 75 broadcasters in more than 200 territories. A record 302,688 spectators also followed the event live in five venues across the countries.

The Men's EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark has set a new attendance record with 316,000 spectators.

In 2020, the first Men's EHF EURO with 24 participating teams was held in Sweden, Austria and Norway. This championship broke a variety of records, including the attendance record with 500,000 fans following the matches live in the different venues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-30 |title=Records tumble as EHF EURO 2020 watched by millions worldwide |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1089875/ehf-euro-2020-breaks-viewing-figures |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref> It was also the first time that a Men's EHF European Championship was organised by three hosts.

The Women's EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia achieved a cumulative audience of 723 million, which is the highest ever result for the championship. The result marks not only a 90 per cent increase on the 2012 edition (380 million), but also significantly tops the previous record set in 2006 (461 million). In terms of broadcast hours, the results were equally remarkable. With 1,919 broadcast hours, the tournament further confirmed its upward trend through a 65 per cent climb of 758 hours compared to 2012. Overall, the tournament was aired in 145 countries.

Following the extension to 24 teams for the Men's EHF EURO, the Women's EHF EURO will be played for the first time with 24 participants in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women's EHF EURO expands to 24 teams from 2024 |url=https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/women-s-ehf-euro-expands-to-24-teams-from-2024/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=www.eurohandball.com |language=en}}</ref> The 2024 championship will be played in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland.

===EHF Champions League===
The [[EHF Champions League]] was launched in the 1993–94 season for both men's and women's teams. The competition has developed considerably over the years, with the introduction of a distinctive blue lagoon and black floor in the 2007–08 season, the creation of an 'EHF Champions League' ball as well as changes to the format of the competition, which saw the introduction of a new 'Last 16' and the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in the 2009–10 season. From the start of the 2011–12 season, the [[VELUX]] Group added their name to the men's competition as title sponsor, and the competition became the VELUX EHF Champions League. The 20th jubilee season (2012–13) saw the launch of a brand new corporate identity and logo.<ref>{{cite web|title=New look for a new season|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/2012-13/article/15066/New+look+for+a+new+season|publisher=European Handball Federation|access-date=15 June 2012}}</ref>
The women's competition also introduced the final tournament for the first time in the 2013–14 season and added the quarter-final stage in the following edition.

A new playing system was introduced for the EHF Champions League,<ref>{{Cite web |title=New season, new system: the roadmap to Cologne in 2020/21 |url=https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/new-season-new-system-the-roadmap-to-cologne-in-2020-21/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=www.eurohandball.com |language=en}}</ref> for both the men's and the women's competition, with the beginning of the 2020/21 season. In both events, 16 teams are registered, divided into two groups of eight in the group phase. The first six teams of each group qualify for the knockout rounds, the last four eventually qualify for the EHF FINAL4 events which are played in Cologne (men) and Budapest (women).

For the men's competition, a new title sponsor was presented with the beginning of the 2022/23 season. The EHF Champions League was subsequently renamed to Machineseeker EHF Champions League.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Machineseeker becomes title sponsor of EHF Champions League Men |url=https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/news/en/machineseeker-becomes-title-sponsor-of-ehf-champions-league-men/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=ehfcl.eurohandball.com |language=en}}</ref>

===EHF European Cup competitions===
Over 250 clubs take part in the EHF European Cup competitions, which include [[EHF European League]] and [[EHF European Cup]]. The 2012–13 season saw a change to the men's European Cup competitions with the amalgamation of the EHF Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup to become simply the 'EHF Cup'. The change was introduced in order to create a three-tier competition system with the VELUX EHF Champions League at the top, followed by the EHF Cup and then the Challenge Cup.<ref name="auto"/> The same merging is planned for the 2016–17 season in the women's competitions. The EHF administers over 730 European club matches each year, which take place in all corners of the continent.

===Beach handball===
Beach handball originated on the beaches of Italy in the 1990s and has established itself as a sport in its own right within the EHF with the organisation of the European Beach Tour and European Championships for men, women and younger age categories. The first European Beach Handball Championships were held in 2000 in Gaeta (Italy) and the most recent was held in Lloret de Mar (Spain) in the summer of 2015. Beach handball is a World Games sport, making its debut in 2009. It will also have its premiere at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

===Development===
The EHF has a number of projects and initiatives through which it supports the development of the sport generally and also in its member federations. These include:
* '''Rinck Convention:''' named after the EHF Honorary Member, and former chairman of the EHF Methods Commission, Claude Rinck. Its aim is the mutual recognition of standards and certificates in the field of coaches' education in handball in Europe by preserving and safeguarding the regional and national characteristics of coaches' education, in order to facilitate the direct admission to work as a handball coach, in each signatory member federation.
* '''SMART Projects:''' short-term projects in member federations with specific aims and objectives; includes material support, coaching and technical support.
* '''Foster Projects:''' cooperation agreements between federations; usually between top-ranking and emerging nations to support the progress of handball's development.
* '''Infrastructure Support Programme (ISP):''' Longer-term projects in partnership with member federations; offering part-funding of salaries of staff members, such as development officers to help build capacity in member federations.

==Dress code rules==
On 19 July 2021, at the [[European Women's Beach Handball Championship|Beach Handball EURO 2021]] tournament, the EHF Disciplinary Commission imposed a fine of {{€|150|link=yes}} per player, for a total fine of {{€|1,500|link=yes}} for wearing [[shorts]] instead of wearing [[bikini]] bottoms. This has led to claims of [[sexism]] within the organization from several people, including Norwegian Member of [[Storting|Parliament]] [[Lene Westgaard-Halle]].<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = European Beach Handball Championships: Norway hit with 1,500 euros bi…
 |url         = https://www.bbc.com/sport/handball/57890430
 |date        = 20 July 2021
 |publisher   = BBC
 |archiveurl  = https://archive.today/20210721012452/https://www.bbc.com/sport/handball/57890430
 |archivedate = 21 July 2021
 |access-date = 21 July 2021
 |url-status  = live
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |user=LeneWestgaard |author=Lene Westgaard-Halle |number=1415427355410108421|title=Dear @ihf_info}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/norway-s-beach-handball-team-fined-for-wearing-shorts-instead-of-bikini-bottoms-20210721-p58bh2.html|title=Norway's beach handball team fined for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=21 July 2021|publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]]}}</ref> The EHF released a statement saying that "The EHF is committed to bring this topic forward in the interest of its member federations, however it must also be said that a change of the rules can only happen at IHF level".<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Norway's beach handball team fined for refusing to wear bikini bottom…
 |website = [[CBS News]]
 |url         = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/norway-beach-handball-team-fined-bikini-bottoms/
 |date        = 2021-07-21
 |archiveurl  = https://archive.today/20210721014839/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/norway-beach-handball-team-fined-bikini-bottoms/
 |archivedate = 21 July 2021
 |access-date = 21 July 2021
 |url-status  = live
}}</ref> 

In October 2021, the International Handball Federation announced an update to its clothing regulations, with the new regulations for women’s uniforms allowing female players the wearing of shorts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beach Handball uniform regulations set to change |url=https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/beach-handball-uniform-regulations-set-to-change/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=eurohandball.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Sports governing bodies in Europe}}
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{{EHF women's teams}}
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[[Category:European Handball Federation| ]]
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