On 10-11 June 2019, the Polish Geological Institute – NRI (PGI-NRI) hosted a Strategy Workshop of Directors of the European Geological Surveys (EuroGeoSurveys, EGS). The Executive Committee and Secretariat of EGS meritoriously prepared the workshop which was attended by directors and/or authorized representatives of twenty national geological surveys associated in the EGS.

The Warsaw workshop was the third after Hanover (August 23-24, 2017) and Kiev (January 31 - February 1, 2018), held in the form of facilitated discussions on strategy and future of EuroGeoSurveys in the context of EU policy. This time, the event was combined with celebrations of the 100th anniversary of its host, the PGI – NRI. The meeting in Warsaw was attended by representatives of national geological surveys from over 20 European countries, including directors of 12 surveys (Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland). On behalf of PGI-NRI, national delegates Beata Wołczuk and Wojciech Brochwicz-Lewiński actively participated in the workshop.

At the workshop reception table. From the left: head of the geological information centre and national delegate of GeoZS (Slovenia) Jasna Šinigoj, deputy director for laboratories of BRGM (France) Philippe Negrel and main advisor and national delegate of GEUS (Denmark) Jørgen Tulstrup

On behalf of the PGI-NRI, the head of the International Cooperation Team Beata Wołczuk welcomed the participants and thanked them in particular for joining celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of PGI – NRI. Subsequently, EGS President Zdenek Venera and Secretary General Slavko Šolar opened the workshop with a brief introduction of its main goals and recent developments in formulating EGS strategy, including a European Partnership proposal for the „Geological Service for Europe”.

Preparations for the meeting of the EGS Executive Committee (ExCom) in the representative hall of the PGI - NRI library. From the left: head of the PGI - NRI international cooperation team Beata Wołczuk, member of the EGS executive committee and Director of GEUS (Denmark) Flemming Larsen, EGS Treasurer and Director of TNO Tirza van Dalen (TNO), President of EGS and Director of CGS (Czech Republic) Zdenek Venera , chief specialist in the PGI - NRI international cooperation team Wojciech Brochwicz-Lewiński (PGI - NRI), Vice President of EGS and Director of Swisstopo (Switzerland) Olivier Lateltin, head of science policy at the EGS secretariat Patrick Wall and EGS Secretary General Slavko Šolar

The workshop was preceded by a meeting of the EGS Executive Committee (ExCom), at which the final programme was adopted. Questions of adjusting and adapting activities of national geological services to the needs of EU policy and implementation of European Union law were chosen as the leading topics of discussion, particularly in the context of the transition to a low-carbon, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy, also in relation to recent initiatives (EGS strategy, communication strategy 2019 - 2024, GeoERA, EGDI, Horizon Europe).

Similarly as two earlier strategy workshops, the Warsaw event was facilitated by Désirée Bösemüller and Gisa Roesen from Denkmodell GmbH, independent professional moderators appointed by the EGS. As part of the workshop, debates were held on possible directions in development of EGS strategy, especially in the context of current legislative work on the new EU framework program for research and development “Horizon Europe” and future cooperation with European institutions after a new composition of the European Commission.

Meeting room for EGS directors' workshops. From the left: Director of GeoZS (Slovenia) Miloš Bavec, EGS Secretary General Slavko Šolar, Treasurer of EGS and Director of TNO (Netherlands) Tirza van Dalen, EGS President and Director of CGS (Czech Republic) Zdenek Venera, head of the international cooperation team PGI - NRI Beata Wołczuk, Director of ŠGÚDŠ (Slovakia) Branislav Žec and head of the BGS partnership and innovation team (UK) Michelle Bentham

The 3th Strategy Workshop of Directors of the European Geological Surveys was aimed at developing a set of recommendations for the future strategy of the EGS as a whole and the development of each of three pillars of that strategy:

• joint geological research program for the next 7 - 10 years, with particular emphasis on social challenges and needs,
• harmonisation and exchange of pan-European geological data (EGDI) that would form the basis of a common EU geological knowledge base,
• sharing of knowledge, opportunities and infrastructure, and building capacity through training and participation in international and multidisciplinary scientific research.
  
  

The attendees of the Warsaw Workshop approved efforts of the Ex-Com and Secretariat in applying for the status of the European Partnership on a Geological Service for Europe (PE EGS) for the EGS within the frame of the Horizon Europe, a planned 7-year European Union scientific research initiative meant to succeed the current Horizon 2020 program. The attendees recommended the coming EGS General Assembly in Prague to confirm the ambition of EGS to go for the PE EGS that would fulfil requirements posted by Partnership regulation and the Commission.

Main session of the EGS directors' workshop. Clockwise: NGU special advisor (Norway) Jan Høst, acting Director of LGT (Lithuania) Jolanta Čyžienė, Director of GeoZS (Slovenia) Miloš Bavec, EGS Secretary General Slavko Šolar, EGS Treasurer and Director of TNO (Netherlands) Tirza van Dalen, EGS President and Director of CGS (Czech Republic) Zdenek Venera, Beata Wołczuk and Wojciech Brochwicz-Lewiński from the PGI - NRI, Director of ŠGÚDŠ (Slovakia) Branislav Žec, head of the BGS partnership and innovation team (UK) Michelle Bentham, Director of GSD (Cyprus) Costas Constantinou, EGS Vice President and Director of Swisstopo (Switzerland) Olivier Lateltin, Director of EGT (Estonia) Alvar Soesoo and chief advisor and national delegate of GEUS (Denmark) Jørgen Tulstrup

The EGS President thanked all participants and facilitators from Denkmodell GmbH, for their valuable contributions to the workshop and their preparatory work. He offered special thanks to the PGI-NRI for hosting the workshop and congratulated on its Centennial Anniversary.

The EGS Secretariat also used the Warsaw workshop to organize a meeting with a team of our experts participating in the PanAfGeo program, in which PIG-PIB acts as technical coordinator. According to EGS (twitter.com/PanAfGeo), this meeting has become an opportunity for constructive discussions of work ongoing under this program and the state of progress in preparations to launch its successor - PanAfGeo2. The meeting was led by the head of the EGS Brussels office Céline Andrien, and attendees from the PGI - NRI side included: Dariusz Owcarz, Barbara Turbiak, Piotr Szrek, Krzysztof Szamałek, Irena Górska, Karol Zglinicki, PanAfGeo technical coordinator Stanisław Wołkowicz and Stanisław Mikulski.

Meeting of PGI - NRI experts participating in the PanAfGeo assistance program, implemented by EGS together with the Organization of African Geological Services. From the left: Dariusz Owcarz, Barbara Turbiak, Dr Piotr Szrek, Prof. Krzysztof Szamałek, Irena Górska, Dr Karol Zglinicki, head of the EGS Brussels office Céline Andrien, technical coordinator of the PanAfGeo program Prof. Stanisław Wołkowicz and Prof. Stanisław Mikulski

Text:Beata Wołczuk and Wojciech Brochwicz-Lewiński
Photos: Wojciech Kurek and Patrick Wall (EGS Archives)
Translation and cooperation: Wojciech Brochwicz-Lewiński