From 12 to 18 April 2026, a joint meeting of the EuroGeoSurveys Geological Mapping and Modelling Expert Group (GMMEG) and the Work Package 6: Geological Framework Setup team of the Geological Service for Europe (WP6 GSEU) project took place in Prague.

The event was attended by several dozen representatives of European geological surveys, including five representatives from Poland.

The meeting was an opportunity to present the activities and results achieved by the individual teams over the past year, as well as to work intensively on issues requiring direct coordination and expert discussion.). Work on metadata for cartographic products, 3D geological modelling and geological glossaries, which form the basis for the harmonisation of geological information across Europe, was of key importance. These topics are a crucial part of the joint action plans currently being prepared, which will influence European raw materials policy and the role of geological surveys in shaping European policies in the broadest sense.

The meeting also discussed the links between GMMEG and WP6 GSEU and other European initiatives, including the Spatial Information Expert Group, with particular attention to strategies aimed at enhancing the role of geology in addressing contemporary social, economic and environmental challenges, such as the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

The programme also included plenary discussions on issues such as the use of new technologies in geological cartography, the importance of field teams in the work of national geological surveys, and future joint projects e.g., 3D Geological Model for Europe. A significant part of the meeting consisted of parallel workshops conducted in working groups, covering the following topics: 3D modelling, lithotectonic units of Europe, metadata, geological dictionaries, classification, and the cartography of anthropogenic formations.

Given the imminent conclusion of the current phase of the GSEU project, the tangible outcomes of which are planned within just over a year, the meeting also provided an opportunity to develop a common position among European geological surveys on further activities in the field of basic geology and geological cartography. It was agreed that there is a need for the gradual harmonisation of 2D and 3D geological cartography at European level, based on the experience gained during the implementation of pilot projects under the GeoERA programmes and the present stage of the GSEU, as well as activities related to the standardisation of geological knowledge, such as the development of metadata and glossaries. It was highlighted that only harmonised geological information, based on common standards, will allow for the effective utilisation of Europe’s raw material and technological potential.

One of the key conclusions from the meeting was the need for active participation by PGI-NRI representatives in leading future initiatives and working groups, so that the projects being developed and joint European activities reflect the specific characteristics and strategic development directions that are important from Poland’s perspective.