Stadium and security summit in Warsaw

UEFA and the European Union join together this week to stage the annual UEFA-EU Stadium and Security Conference in Warsaw.

The meeting takes place at the start of each season, and will be attended by representatives of European police and governmental agencies, security officers of UEFA and national football associations, security officers of the clubs taking part in this season's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League group stages, National Football Information Points (NFIP), and stadium owners.

This year's conference on Wednesday and Thursday will look at the crucial issue of stadium, safety and security in relation to UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches during the 2013/2014 season. The theme of the gathering is 'Together – the Only Way Forward; – stressing the joint philosophy and action required to ensure the safety of everyone at football matches, and emphasing the importance of the stadium and security measures that help guarantee this safety.

UEFA realises that it cannot exist or operate in isolation. The European body requires the support of governments, public authorities and police, as well as Europe’s clubs, in efforts to ensure that the European competitions can be staged in a safe, secure and welcoming environment.

The focus in Warsaw will be on the importance of integrated partnerships and shared responsibilities, as the future of football also rests with the police, club officers, stadium owners, stadium safety managers, licensing authorities and other local stakeholders which organse UEFA events. This integrated approach centres on joint responsibility and joint action through planning, prevention, response and review – free of political, legal or other barriers between event organisers and authorities.