Serbia plans joint bid for 2034 European Handball Championship

The Serbian Handball Federation has presented a plan for a joint bid to host the 2034 European Championship. Serbia intends to work with Slovenia and North Macedonia.

Federation president Bozidar Djurkovic introduced the proposal at the organisation's assembly. The members were asked to approve the next formal step.

Three federations have discussed the project

Djurkovic said representatives held three meetings before the Serbian assembly. The talks included the proposed division of matches between the countries. The early agreement places two preliminary groups in each host nation. Serbia would then stage the final weekend of the championship.

This structure gives every partner a clear part of the tournament. It also reserves the decisive matches for the Serbian venue. The project remains a bid rather than an awarded event. Formal approval and the complete application still come before any hosting decision.

Serbia would host the final weekend

The proposed final weekend represents the most visible part of the event. It normally includes the medal matches and the closing ceremony. Serbia has arenas and previous experience with major handball events. Slovenia and North Macedonia also have established handball venues.

Djurkovic told the assembly that all three countries possess the required organisational ability. He described their chances as strong. His statement expressed confidence without presenting the bid as complete. The relevant European body will decide after the formal process.

A Serbian player attacks during a World Championship qualifier against Lithuania.

The assembly was asked for approval

The federation leadership needs internal support before submitting the joint proposal. Djurkovic requested a clear mandate from the assembly members. Approval would allow the Serbian side to continue official work with its two partners. It would also define the federation's position during later talks.

The proposal may include events for younger age categories. That option remains separate from the main senior championship plan. No final host award was announced at the meeting. The important development was Serbia's decision to prepare a coordinated candidacy.

The federation also approved organisational changes

General secretary Ivan Milivojevic presented changes to the national federation. The organisation is adopting the name Serbian Handball Federation. A new statute was approved to align the federation with national sports law. Visual changes, including a new crest, are also planned.

Milivojevic said the new name identifies the organisation's national role more clearly. The statute also defines its future work in greater detail. These decisions were separate from the 2034 bid. They were discussed during the same assembly and form part of a wider administrative update.

The bid connects three handball countries

Serbia, Slovenia and North Macedonia all have active national teams and domestic handball structures. A joint event would distribute the large operational workload. Six preliminary groups could be divided evenly under the presented plan. Later rounds would gradually move toward the Serbian final weekend.

The concept now requires detailed venues, budgets and guarantees. Those elements belong to the formal application rather than the initial announcement. The assembly presentation established the intended partners and basic match plan. The next confirmed step is approval to submit the candidacy.

The proposed format distributes the opening stage

Each country would receive two groups under the initial concept. That distribution allows local supporters to see several national teams throughout the first stage. Later rounds require a separate schedule because fewer teams remain. Serbia's proposed final weekend would concentrate the medal phase in one place.

The three federations still have to define venues and travel plans. Those details were not included in the first public outline. The basic structure is already clear enough for internal approval. Six groups are shared evenly before the final part moves to Serbia.

Recent national-team results formed part of the discussion

Serbia played at the senior European Championship in January. A 30-27 victory over Germany was not enough to pass the group stage. The team later defeated Hungary in the final round of World Championship qualification. That result secured another major event for the national side.

These results concern competition rather than the hosting bid. They still show the active place of the national team within European handball. Organisational work continues beside the sporting calendar. The federation is planning for 2034 while the team prepares for nearer competitions.

Youth events may support the wider plan

Djurkovic mentioned the possibility of hosting competitions for younger age groups. Those events would require separate approval and scheduling. Youth tournaments often use several halls and many daily matches. They provide a practical test of volunteers, transport and event operations.

No specific youth championship was awarded during the assembly. The proposal only leaves that option open during later negotiations. The senior European Championship remains the central focus. The youth idea represents an additional part of the federation's long-term programme.

The proposed hosts divided the main tournament duties

Serbia, Slovenia and North Macedonia discussed a shared organisation model. Opening matches would be distributed before the final weekend moved to Belgrade.

The proposal still passes through federation procedures before a formal international decision. The current step records cooperation between the three national bodies.