Most self-regulatory organisations do not cover event sponsorship in their codes. To provide a platform for consumers for a complaints process about sponsorship, EASA set up together with the European Sponsorship Association an EASA-ESA arbitration panel in May 2008. Since then, self-regulatory organisations that receive complaints in this area no longer have to dismiss them if the issue is not covered by their codes, and can refer them to the four-member strong central arbitration panel.

Joint Arbitration Panel (EASA-ESA arbitration panel)

The panel consists of a representative of the self-regulatory organisation where the complaint was filed, an ESA representative, a member of the EASA secretariat and a mutually agreed upon independent person. When a self-regulatory organisation passes on a complaint related to sponsorship, firstly the sponsor will be asked for their comments, and then the panel will be convened via telephone, where all details of the complaint will be discussed. ESA will subsequently contact the relevant party, convey the outcome of the panel meeting and request a response. If the sponsor challenges the outcome of the panel meeting, the panel will reconvene and re-assess based on any additional information provided. Subsequently new advice will be provided.

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