The inaugural meeting of the Geological Service for Europe (GSEU) project was held in Brussels on September 29-30, 2022. At it, the project's goals and plans, reporting, cost eligibility and other formal aspects under European Union regulations were presented.

The primary goal of the Geological Service for Europe (GSEU) project is to take action for the sake of a healthy planet and a climate-neutral economy. The project will directly support the vision of the European Green Deal, enabling it to be based on a solid geological foundation - the energy sources, water and raw materials without which life on Earth is not possible. In addition to specific goals for specific actions, the GSEU is designed to create a long-term mechanism for cooperation among geological services affiliated with EuroGeoSurveys. It will allow for the ongoing integration and evaluation of geological information, enabling long-term planning of the use of the rock mass, including assessment of resource potential, energy potential, groundwater resources, geohazards, etc. It will also help reduce and resolve potential conflicts regarding the use of underground space.

The GSEU will:

1. create and test procedures and develop tools to facilitate the acquisition and harmonization of pan-European geological data,
2. develop the already existing European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI), which is expected to evolve from a "data warehouse" into a "knowledge infrastructure" that responds to Europe's major challenges,
3. strengthen the national and regional network of geological services.

The GSEU will operate under nine task packages:

1. coordination and management,
2. critical raw materials, the International Center of Excellence and the United Nations Framework Classification,
3. geothermal energy and underground storage inventory,
4. assessment, protection and sustainable use of European groundwater resources
5. coastal vulnerability assessment and optimization of offshore wind farm locations,
6. geological context for the European geological data and information system,
7. the European Geological Data Infrastructure - EGDI,
8. communication, dissemination and use of information,
9. a network of geological surveys and sustainable services for Europe.

The consortium consists of more than 40 partner organizations from 36 European countries (including both national and regional geological organizations and associated partners). The project will run for five years, starting September 1, 2022, and will be mostly funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe program. EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), the coordinator of the GSEU project, is an international non-profit association of European geological surveys that has fostered cooperation between leading geological institutions in Europe for more than 50 years.

Text: Marta Banasiewicz and Ewa Szynkaruk