Results are presented from the first European campaign for observation of sprites, conducted during the summer of 2000 from the French astronomical observatory, Observatoire Midi-Pyr¿n¿es. The primary objective was to establish if sprites are generated over Europe and to identify the characteristics of the associated thunderstorms. During the one-month campaign local weather conditions allowed observations approximately half of the nights. Sprites were observed two nights over the Alps and one night over south-eastern France in connection with cold fronts moving in from the Atlantic. In all, 40 sprites were recorded, including dancing sprites, multiple carrot sprites and c-sprites. The weather conditions were almost identical during the 3 nights, with the active area forming on the front-side of the cold fronts. The storms are not of the same magnitude as active systems often observed over the North American plains. Even so, sprites seem to be a common occurrence also over Europe. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union