Espinós, who is also the European Karate Federation (EKF) President, spoke after a delegation of EKF secretary general Davor Cipek and Turkish Karate Federation President Aslan Abid Uguz attended the event in Istanbul.

"Karate has widely demonstrated its tremendous added value at multi-sport events in the three editions of the European Games," said Espinós.

"Our sport is one of the most popular disciplines in the continent, especially at the grassroots level and we are pleased to continue our partnership with EOC to further promote the sporting and Olympic values in the continent.

"As we now move to the 2027 edition of the European Games, we are convinced that karate will continue playing a key role in the progress of sports in Europe."

During the Assembly, Cipek and Abid Uguz met with EOC President Spyros Capralos and EOC Executive Committee member and Chairman of EOC’s Coordination Commission for the European Games Hasan Arat.

The permanence of karate in the programme of the future editions of the European Games was discussed. 

"As the representatives of the EKF, we can be pleased for the EOC's support of Karate.

"After the European Games in Baku in 2015, in Minsk in 2019, and in Poland in 2023, the EKF and the top European karate athletes deserve to be part of the next edition of the European Games in 2027."

The same programme for karate at all three editions of the European Games has featured with 12 gold medals featured in each.

There have been five kumite categories in the men's and women's contests in addition to kata competitions.