Five European Athletics permit meetings preceded the championships on the weekend of 26–27 November: the Skanzen meeting in Budapest, the Cross de l'Acier in Leffrinckoucke, the Warandecross in Tilburg, the Lotto CrossCup van West-Vlaanderen in Roeselare, and the Cross Internacional Valle de Llodio in Llodio.
European Union | country music | 2011 | Victoria Cross | 2011 ATP Challenger Tour | country | Georgia (country) | European Parliament | Member of the European Parliament | European Commission | International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement | American Red Cross | Basque Country (autonomous community) | Country music | The Championships, Wimbledon | Basque Country | Military Cross | European Space Agency | European | European Court of Human Rights | Hot Country Songs | European Court of Justice | 2011 ATP World Tour | World Figure Skating Championships | Country | 2011 Rugby World Cup | Distinguished Service Cross | European Economic Community | Christian cross | 2011 ITF Women's Circuit |
Albufeira was chosen as the host at the 120th European Athletics Council Meeting in October 2008, defeating a rival bid from Velenje (which was chosen for the 2011 edition instead).