Sports Ministers attending the meeting in Budapest ©Council of Europe

A framework towards boosting relations with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to improve drugs testing practices has been agreed at a meeting of European Sports Ministers in Budapest.

Representatives from more than 40 countries who met in the Hungarian capital also signed agreements aimed at halting match fixing and spectator violence at sporting events.

This was announced afterwards by Hungarian State Secretary for Sports, Tunde Szabo.

Fan violence at football matches is thought to have been the specific focus of the latter measure.

Anti-doping issues, however, were at the forefront of the discussions.

A specific cooperation agreement is being signed with WADA aimed at more effective international actions to combat performance-enhancing drugs use. 

"More than ever, we need a strong WADA, based on equal partnership between the public authorities and the sports movements," said Norwegian Sports Minister Linda Helleland, who was elected a WADA vice-president last week, during the meeting.

"We need to strengthen WADA's ability to respond to current and emerging challenges in the anti-doping field.

"We must also safeguard WADA's independence as the only global regulator responsible for standard-setting and monitoring. 

"This role must not be compromised. 

"It is also crucial that WADA has the capacity and the resources it needs to do its job efficiently."

Solving anti-doping problems was a major issue discussed at the meeting ©Getty Images
Solving anti-doping problems was a major issue discussed at the meeting ©Getty Images

WADA President Sir Craig Reedie is also thought to have attended the meeting along with the likes of International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven and Italian International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Mario Pescante.

Russia's Pavel Kolobkov, who became Sports Minister earlier this year when Vitaly Mutko left the role to take the deputy Prime Minister position, was also present.

He told the TASS news agency afterwards that he had been well received as he sought to outline how Russia is improving its drugs testing procedures following allegations of state-sponsored doping.

"My speech was accepted with warmth," he said. 

"Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni pointed out in her speech that we [Russia] had done a lot in the fight against doping.

"We have large-scale plans with the Council of Europe in the sphere of the anti-doping policies."

The conference is set to conclude tomorrow.