European Volleyball Confederation

Although the CEV was formed on October 21, 1963, in Bucharest, Romania[1] volleyball became popular in Europe many years before. The majority of the teams that attended the Congress which eventually led to the foundation of the FIVB in 1947 were from this continent. In fact, the foundation itself is supposed to have been a move on the part of European national federations.

Volleyball was invented in the United States, but became for the first time an extremely popular sport in eastern Europe, after being introduced by American soldiers during World War I. By the middle of the century, it had already spread through the rest of the continent as well. Many techniques and tactics that are commonplace in modern volleyball have been allegedly introduced by European teams. Amongst others, it would be worthy of note here: blocking (Czechoslovakia, 1938); penetration of the setter, which eventually led to the development of the so-called 5-1 system (USSR, 1949); forearm pass (Czechoslovakia, 1958); and backrow attack (Poland, 1974).

The long and significant tradition of the sport in the continent may at least partially account for the administrative structure employed by the CEV, which rivals the FIVB's in size and comprehensiveness. It is the biggest of all volleyball confederations, and the one that organizes the largest number of annual competitions and tournaments. As of 2005, its headquarters are located in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

As the presiding entity over European volleyball federations, the CEV organizes continental competitions such as the prestigious European Championship (first edition, 1948), the CEV Cup and the European League. It participates in the organization of qualification tournaments for major events such as the Olympic Games or the men's and women's World Championships, and of international competitions hosted by one of its affiliated federations. The CEV family increased its membership to 56 Federations following the approval of Kosovo on the opening day of the 35th FIVB World Congress held on October 5, 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Europe is considered the strongest continent in the field of volleyball. The CEV has usually more spots reserved in international competitions than any other confederation.

Russia, which inherited most of the players and coaches from former USSR and CIS, has arguably the most stable volleyball programme, supporting top level women's and men's teams. The same may be said of Italy, although only in later years women's volleyball was fully developed in this country.

Serbia, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria and The Netherlands must also be counted as continental forces in men's volleyball. At a lower level of play, one may consider a few other teams with some tradition in this realm, such as France; and at an even lower level, but still capable of occasionally upsetting stronger teams, Germany, Spain, Greece and possibly Portugal. In 2015 Slovenia made history ending in second place the 2015 European Championship.

Competition is less tough in the domain of women's volleyball. Russia, Serbia and Italy are rarely threatened by any other team in major competitions. Apart from these three, Germany, which has drawn players both from West and East Germany, may be viewed as the next most traditional European team. With more inconsistent results and often depending on the excellence of individual players, one may also take into consideration: The Netherlands, Romania and more recently Poland and Turkey.

As of 2020, the following 56 national federations were affiliated to the CEV. The countries are listed alphabetically.

Code	Country	Federation
ALB	Albania	Federata Shqiptare e Volejbollit
AND	Andorra	Federació Andorrana de Voleibol
ARM	Armenia	Hayastani voleyboli federats’ia
AUT	Austria	Österreichischer Volleyball Verband
AZE	Azerbaijan	Azərbaycan Voleybol Federasiyası
BLR	Belarus	Bielaruskaja Fiederacjya Valiejbola
BEL	Belgium	Fédération Royale Belge de Volleyball
BIH	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Odbojkaški savez Bosne i Hercegovine
BUL	Bulgaria	Bulgarska Federatsiya Volejbol
CRO	Croatia	Hrvatski odbojkaški savez
CYP	Cyprus	Kypriaki Omospondia Petosfairisis
CZE	Czech Republic	Český Volejbalový Svaz
DEN	Denmark	Dansk Volleyball Forbund
ENG	England	Volleyball England
EST	Estonia	Eesti Võrkpalli Liit
FAR	Faroe Islands	Flogbóltssamband Føroya
FIN	Finland	Suomen Lentopalloliitto F. Y.
FRA	France	Fédération Française de Volleyball
GEO	Georgia	Sakartvelos Prenburtis Pedaratsia
GER	Germany	Deutscher Volleyball Verband
GIB	Gibraltar	Gibraltar Volleyball Association
GRE	Greece	Ellinikí Omospondía Vóleï
GRL	Greenland	Kalaallit Nunaanni Volleyballertartut Kattuffiat
HUN	Hungary	Magyar Röplabda Szövetség
ISL	Iceland	Blaksamband Íslands
IRL	Ireland	Volleyball Ireland
ISR	Israel	Igud HaKadur'af BeIsrael
ITA	Italy	Federazione Italiana Pallavolo
KOS	Kosovo	Federata e Volejbollit e Kosovës
LAT	Latvia	Latvijas volejbola federācija
LIE	Liechtenstein	Liechtensteiner Volleyball Verband
LTU	Lithuania	Lietuvos tinklinio federacija
LUX	Luxembourg	Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Volleyball
MKD	North Macedonia	Odbojkarska Federacija na Makedonija
MLT	Malta	Malta Volleyball Association
MLD	Moldova	Federaţia Moldovenească de Volei
MON	Monaco	Fédération Monégasque de Volleyball
MNE	Montenegro	Odbojkaški savez Crne Gore
NED	Netherlands	Nederlandse Volleybalbond
NIR	Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Volleyball Association
NOR	Norway	Norges Volleyballforbund
POL	Poland	Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej
POR	Portugal	Federação Portuguesa de Voleibol
ROU	Romania	Federaţia Română de Volei
RUS	Russia	Federetsiya Voleybola Rossii
SMR	San Marino	Federazione Sammarinese Pallavolo
SCO	Scotland	Scottish Volleyball Association
SRB	Serbia	Odbojkaški savez Srbije
SVK	Slovakia	Slovenská Volejbalová Federácia
SLO	Slovenia	Odbojkarska Zveza Slovenije
ESP	Spain	Real Federación Española de Voleibol
SWE	Sweden	Svenska Volleybollförbundet
SUI	Switzerland	Swiss Volley
TUR	Turkey	Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonu
UKR	Ukraine	Ukrayins'ka Federetsiya Voleybolu
WAL	Wales	Pêl-foli Cymru

CEV has 5 Zonal Associations and the Small Countries Association (SCA).[6]

• Balkan Volleyball Association (BVA)
• Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA)
• Middle European Volleyball Zonal Association (MEVZA)
• The North European Volleyball Zonal Association (NEVZA)
• Western European Volleyball Zonal Association (WEVZA)

• CEV Homepage
• Photos from CEV