The European Umbrella Organisation for Geographic Information (EUROGI) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a high-level conference at the House of the European Surveyors and Geoinformation, Brussels, on November 21, bringing together leading experts and policymakers to discuss the role of geospatial information in addressing Europe's major challenges.
The conference, titled "The Role of Geospatial in Addressing Major Challenges Facing Europe," showcased how location-based information and technologies continue to drive innovation across climate action, defense, security, and digital health sectors.
EUROGI President, Alejandro Guinea de Salas, emphasized the organization's evolution and impact: "Over three decades, EUROGI has established itself as a cross-sector platform connecting associations, private companies, and academic institutions. Our strategic focus on networking, projects, and skills development has transformed how Europe understands and utilizes geographic information."
Dusan Chrenek, Principal Adviser at the Directorate of Climate Action (DG CLIMA), European Commission, praised EUROGI's contributions: "This anniversary is not only to reflect on the past but also to decide about the future. EUROGI was a driving force in using geospatial technology and built a very vibrant network of professionals, innovators, and policymakers. Your efforts transformed the way we understand geographic information."
Chrenek highlighted the critical role of geospatial technologies in achieving the EU's climate objectives, including its commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 and the intermediate target of 55% emissions reduction by 2030.
Jordi Escriu from the Joint Research Centre's Digital Economy Unit delivered a comprehensive overview of Europe's spatial data infrastructure developments. His presentation focused on INSPIRE's evolution and its crucial role in supporting EU environmental policies. Escriu emphasized the importance of interoperability through standardized formats and showcased real-world applications where geospatial information supports climate action and disaster management.
Tim Lemmens, Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission (DG DEFIS), presented the achievements and future direction of the Copernicus Programme. He outlined the program's six service areas and its €5 billion funding commitment for 2021-2027, emphasizing the successful deployment of the Sentinel satellite fleet and the program's open data policy through platforms like the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem.
Additional sessions explored the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) role in managing space-related research, presented by Dr. Massimo Ciscato, and emerging security challenges in geospatial data management, discussed by Oskari Häkkinen from Spatineo Inc.
The conference concluded with Bruce McCormack's forward-looking presentation on the integration of geospatial technologies with artificial intelligence. McCormack emphasized Europe's leading position in digital infrastructure and AI-related policies, including GDPR and the EU AI Act. McCormack is EUROGI Vice President and the President of the Irish Organisation for Geographic Information (IRLOGI).
The discussion was particularly enriched by the significant presence of European Union officials and policy advisers, whose firsthand insights into EU institutional processes and upcoming policy developments added substantial value to the dialogue. Their contributions helped clarify the EU's strategic approach to AI regulation and its intersection with geospatial technologies, while also highlighting potential opportunities for stakeholder engagement in future policy-making processes.
All former EUROGI Presidents were invited to the conference:
- Michael Brand (Ireland)
- Ian Masser (The Netherlands)
- Jean Poullit (France)
- Mauro Salvemini (Italy)
- Bruce McCormack (Ireland)
- Henning Sten Hansen (Denmark)
- Andreas Wytzisk (Germany)
- Hans Breemersch (Belgium)
EUROGI continues to serve as the primary platform for geographic information in Europe, representing both users and providers of location-based information across public, academic, and private sectors. Organizations interested in joining EUROGI's network can visit www.eurogi.org for membership information.
