The XXXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress took place in Istanbul, Turkey on 22 March 2012, with senior representatives from UEFA’s 53 member national associations voting on a variety of issues on the agenda.

In addition to the address to delegates by UEFA President Michel Platini highlighting the past year’s activities within European football’s governing body, the chairmen of UEFA’s standing committees also reported on their respective committee’s work. Signature ceremonies took place for the renewed Memorandums of Understanding agreed with the European Club Association (ECA), the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and the players' union FIFPro Division Europe.

The major decisions taken by the UEFA Congress also included the approval of minimum contractual requirements for players' contracts (the so-called Autonomous Agreement) as a consequence of the European social dialogue bringing together representatives of the employers and of the employees.

A number of changes were made to the UEFA Statutes, including:

• The appointment of a woman as an additional UEFA Executive Committee member with the same rights and duties as the other Executive Committee members

• The establishment of the Club Financial Control Body as a UEFA Organ for the Administration of Justice, allowing it to take disciplinary measures

The Congress approved the reports of the UEFA President/Executive Committee and the UEFA administration for 2010/11, as well as financial matters including the annual UEFA consolidated statement of accounts for 2010/11 and approval of the budget for the 2012/13 financial year.