Istanbul hosts Europe's annual football parliament

Europe's annual football parliament convenes in Istanbul on Thursday when the XXXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress takes place.

Representatives from UEFA's 53 member national associations will be called upon to discuss and vote on a variety of issues at the Congress at Istanbul's Congress Centre.

UEFA President Michel Platini will address the Congress on UEFA's activities and achievements since last year's gathering in Paris. The main items on the agenda include approval of the report of the UEFA President and Executive Committee for 2010/11, and approval of the UEFA administration report for the same period.

Delegates will also be called upon to approve UEFA's financial statement – the annual UEFA consolidated statement of accounts for 2010/11 – and to rubber-stamp the budget for the 2012/13 financial year.

Moreover, the national associations will be asked to approve an agreement on minimum standard player contract requirements in the professional football sector in the European Union (EU) and in the rest of the UEFA territory. The agreement is between UEFA, the European Club Association (ECA), the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and the players' union FIFPro Division Europe.

The UEFA Congress is UEFA's supreme controlling organ. An Ordinary Congress is scheduled every year, as a rule prior to a FIFA Congress. A media conference, attended by the UEFA President, will be held at the end of the Congress meeting at approximately 14.30 local time (13.30CET).