France are Italy are bidding for the right to host the 2016 European Championships, while a bid from Turkey and joint offer from Norway and Sweden are also being considered.

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The four bids have been officially submitted to UEFA, with a final decision on the host nation to be taken in May 2010.

Each candidate nation will have to submit a full proposal by February 2010, after which UEFA officials will visit the the bidding countries to evaluate their plans.

Italy made a failed bid to host Euro 2012, which was eventually awarded to Poland and Ukraine, and have not hosted the event since 1980.

France will hope that Frenchman Michel Platini's position as president of UEFA will give them an edge.

Turkey, meanwhile, are reported to be focusing on persuading the executive committee that they should take the tournament to a new country, Sweden having hosted the event in 1992.

"France, Italy, and Turkey have informed UEFA they wish to submit a single bid, while a joint bid will be presented by Norway/Sweden," UEFA said in a statement.

"UEFA will now review the eligibility of the interested candidates, based on the various technical requirements relating to the potential infrastructure needed as well as any previous experience of the relevant member associations, cities and venues in organising multi-venue sports events, before confirming the official list of bidders."