European Chess Union

The European Chess Union, abbreviated ECU, is an independent association of national chess federations connected to the International Chess Federation (FIDE) framework. FIDE lists it among its affiliated organizations, and the ECU statutes define its members as national federations admitted and assigned to the European sphere.

ECU represents its members' interests at FIDE and other international organizations, promotes chess development, and holds the right to organize the various European championships. It also maintains rules, calendars, commissions and educational programs that support continuous continental work.

It is not a political institution of the European Union. Membership follows organized chess structures and the ECU statutes, not a player's citizenship or a country's membership in the political European Union. Its institutional level corresponds to that of the Confederation of Chess for Americas and other continental organizations.