EuroGeoSurveys ANNUAL REPORT. The EuroGeoSurveys Annual Report 2015 refers to information related to the year 2014.

Transcription

1 15 EuroGeoSurveys ANNUAL REPORT The EuroGeoSurveys Annual Report 2015 refers to information related to the year 2014.

2 32 Geological surveys organisations from across Europe A workforce that includes thousands of geoscientists at the service of European citizens Pioneering research for Society s benefit since 1971

3 Content Executive Summary 4 EGS in Brief 5 Key People 8 The shape of our business 13 Statistics Publications 71 The EuroGeoSurveys Annual Report 2015 refers to information related to the year 2014.

4 page 4 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Executive Summary 2014 has again been an extremely intense year for EGS strategically. Not only the EGS Strategy Task Force, but also several Expert Groups, were particularly engaged. A major effort was put in the EGS continuing attempt to better serve the EU institutions, in view of providing a routine Geological Service in the future. In 2014, a considerable number of meetings and dialogues with several EU institutions was held, which allowed to finalise the discussions for the launch of a geoscientific ERA-NET under the EC Framework Programme for Research Horizon The ERA-NET is expected to pave the way towards the application of an Art. 185 TFEU on geosciences. The member of the Cabinet of the Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry in charge for the raw materials policy, attended the EGS General Meeting in March, confirming full support to the EGS strategic vision. In the meantime the Minerals4EU project progressed well. The project is another milestone of the EGS growth, as it was conceived by the EGS Mineral Resources Expert Group. The project will set up a permanent infrastructure and will design the first European Minerals Yearbook. The project is followed with great attention, as it will set up a permanent infrastructure, which is considered a first concrete brick towards the application of Art Other relevant actions during 2014 have been: the progress in the cooperation with DG JRC, with a kick off meeting hosted by the EC in Ispra, Italy; the successful completion of the EGDI-Scope project; and the implementation of the feasibility study jointly with the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS). The number of EGS members in 2014 increased to 34. In fact, the Geological Surveys of the Federation of Bosnia&Herzegovina, the Geological Survey of Republic Srspka and the Geological Survey of Kosovo, joined EGS as Associated Members. The Geological Surveys of Serbia and the Geological Survey of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia declared the intention to apply for Full Membership during The signature of a MoU between EuroGeoSurveys and The General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration - official Geological Survey of the Republic of Turkey (MTA), is also expected in During 2014 the work of the Expert Groups improved considerably, probably also as a response of the MoU with DG JRC, of the EGDI-Scope and ERA-NET achievements, and the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials taking momentum. The EGS investment on communication has been kept constant and effective. The main objectives of the communication strategy have been to increase the EGS visibility and the participation of all the members and Expert Groups to the communication activities. This has led to several relevant achievements. In March 2014, EGS published the promotional book 'Minerals in your life', with the participation of 28 EGS Members. The book has been launched by Fabrizia Benini, member of the Cabinet of the European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani. The EGS visibility among media during this year has increased through constant relationships with the press. Relationships have been maintained and strengthened with EU institutions, in particular DG ENTR, DG DEVCO, DG JRC, DG MARE, DG ENV, DG ENERGY, DG SANCO, DG AGRI and the EEA, along with other international organisations has been another year of strong evolution. EuroGeoSurveys has shown an impressive level of maturity in the collective reaction towards an ERA-NET. Most remarkable was the attention dedicated to EGS by the EU institutions, which now regularly invite EGS to attend meetings at the highest levels. In 2014 the EGS president gave several speeches jointly with the EC Director Generals. EGS is probably the only umbrella organisation that have achieved such a high level recognition in the Brussels arena. In 2015 EuroGeoSurveys efforts will be mainly dedicated to the implementation of the Strategy Roadmap, mainly focusing on the preparation for the geoscientific ERA-NET under Horizon Other key focus areas will include: the finalisation of the Minerals4EU project, and the set up of the permanent structure. Should on the GNEISS proposal be funded, a special focus will be put on the development and implementation of the new strategic framework to create a European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI), also ensuring that all the other actions, such as Minerals4EU, run in parallel with its development and are integrated into it. Other focus areas will include: transferring to EGS the responsibility and maintenance of the PanGeo portal; supporting the EIP on Raw Materials and the EU Industrial Policy Dialogues on Raw Materials; and in strengthening the OAGS. Moreover special attention will be put to increase our visibility through professional communication means.

5 page 5 I EGS 2015 Annual Report EGS in Brief MISSION EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), European leading geological organisation, provides public Earth science knowledge to support the EU s competitiveness, social well-being, environmental management and international commitments. EGS represents 37 Geological Surveys in Europe, an overall workforce of several thousand experts. Since 1972 we have combined and coordinated the expertise of our members to support the direct interest of the European Union and/or of the European Free Trade Association, and today we are the leading technical advisory body to the EU Institutions in the field of geosciences. By 2020 we will offer a unique gateway to unbiased and seamless data at European level. We will establish a common European Geological Knowledge Base and will jointly provide a Geological Service for Europe. We will achieve this by developing a joint research programme with a focus on EU policy, harmonizing, sharing and providing pan-european geological data and sharing knowledge, capacities and infrastructure. Our strength is based on the work carried out by our Expert Groups. Europe is facing a number of big challenges: economic growth, climate change, safety of environment, demand for sufficient water and food supplies, etc. Our experts answer daily to questions such as : will Europe s industries remain dependent on imports of critical raw materials or can we supply to this demand with own resources? Raw materials are essential to stimulate the economic growth. Or how can we mitigate the effects of climate change and develop a European strategy? Understanding the relationship between climate and natural hazards such as floods, draughts, land subsidence, landslides etc. becomes more and more important. The knowledge of the subsurface is of vital importance to reduce the release of CO 2 to the atmosphere, so is where, and to what extent, CO 2 can be safely stored in the subsurface. It is another common question, as well as where and how groundwater resources and soils are available to provide a sufficient supply of food and water. Zoom into your favourite topics and discover why geology has no borders. WE ARE ACTIVE IN: Marine Geology Marine Geology database Sedimentological, geochemical, geophysical and paleontological information of the ocean floor and coastal areas. Exploration for energy and mineral resources Enviromental protection Marine geological information as a basis for marine spatial planning Earth Observation - GeoHazards Satellite, airborne and ground-based Earth observation for geoscience Mapping, characterising and monitoring areas exposed to geohazards Geoscience contributions to EC Global Monitoring for Environment & Security Global Earth Observing System of Systems for Disasters, Energy & Geo-resource

6 page 6 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Geochemistry Distribution of natural backgrounds and anomalies in rocks, sediments, soil and water Exploration for energy and mineral resources Support to land-use planning and public health policies GeoEnergy Exploration and assessment of fossil energy sources Development of renewable geothermal energy Water Resources Characterisation of Groundwater bodies and their recharge area Groundwater resources exploration, exploitation, management and protection Pollution mitigation and remediation Mineral Resources Exploration, characterisation and exploitation of mineral deposits Mineral economics and statistics Climate change and Carbon Capture and Storage Paleoclimates and paleogeography Storage of CO 2 in geological formations Impacts of climate change Spatial Information - INSPIRE Provide with a clear technical strategy to guarantee the adequacy of the developments of its infrastructure in the context of global spatial information infrastructures 5: INSPIRE, GEOSS, One Geology ) Focus on the global consistency of the way spatial information has to be defined, managed and delivered to provide harmonized services at the European scale. International Cooperation anddevelopment International cooperation with a focus on North America and Africa: European data available for the African Geological Surveys Future collaboration with Latin-southern America and Asia Soil Resources - Superficial Deposits Exploration and integration of existing experiences and datasets on the distribution, properties and weathering behavior of exposed rocks and superficial deposits Harmonization of existing parent material information, and integration of it towards a European-wide new geological data layer: a soil parent material map of Europe Cities and Geoheritage Engineering geology for safe construction Use of subsurface space for infrastructure and storage Waste disposal Protection of heritage made of natural stone Geoparks and geoturism Environmental protection around mining site and post-closure mitigation

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8 page 8 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Key People WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH OUR GOALS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Expert knowledge at the disposal of all European citizens, institutions, companies, media, universities, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE is the primary decision-making body. It implements the strategy formulated by the General Assembly of Members and makes proposals for future actions. President Mart van Bracht 'Netherlands - TNO' BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECRETARY GENERAL EXPERT GROUPS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Viktor Doda 'Albania1 - AGS' Peter Seifert 'Austria - GBA' Eric Goemaere 'Belgium - GSB' Vice President Koen Verbruggen 'Ireland - GSI' Treasurer Josip Halamic 'Croatia - HGI-CGS' NATIONAL DELEGATES THE SECRETARY GENERAL is responsible for the day-to-day operational management and administration of EGS, contacts with the European Commission and other third parties, managing the budget and carrying out the activities agreed by all Members. Hazim Hrvatovic 'Bosnia and Herzegovina - GSFBH' Dragan Mitrovic 'Bosnia and Herzegovina - Republic of Srpska - GSRS' Josip Halamica 'Croatia - HGI-CGS' Member Jerzy Nawrocki 'Poland - PGI' Secretary General Luca Demicheli Eleni Georgiu-Morrisseau 'Cyprus - GSD'

9 Key People page 9 I EGS 2015 Annual Report BOARD OF DIRECTORS (continued) Zdenek Venera 'Czech Rep. - CGS' Tamás Fancsik 'Hungary - MFGI' Mart J. van Bracht 'Netherlands - TNO' Miloš Bavec 'Slovenia - GeoZS' Johnny Fredericia 'Denmark - GEUS' Koen Verbrugger 'Ireland - GSI' Morten Smelror 'Norway - NGU' Jorge Civis LLovera 'Spain1 - IGME' Aivar Pajupuu 'Estonia - EGK' Bernardo de Bernardinis (President) 'Italy1 - ISPRA' Roman Smolka 'Poland - PGI' Lena Söderberg 'Sweden - SGU' Elias Ekdahl 'Finland - GTK' Stefano Laporta (Director General) 'Italy2 - ISPRA' Teresa Ponce de Leão (President) 'Portugal1 - LNEG' Olivier Lateltin 'Switzerland1 - SWISSTOPO' Vincent Laflèche 'France - BRGM' Fidaim Sahiti 'Kosovo - KGS' Mário Rui Machado Leite (Director General) 'Portugal2 - LNEG' Dmytro Kaschuk 'Ukraine - SGSSU' Hans-Joachim Kümpel 'Germany1 - BGR' Jonas Satkunas 'Lithuania - LGT' Marcel Maruntiu 'Romania - GIR' John Ludden 'United Kingdom - BGS' Vassilis Kostopouls (President) 'Greece1 - EKBAA-IGME' Robert Maquil 'Luxembourg - SGL' Oleg Petrov 'Russia - VSEGEI' Nikolaos Nikolaou (Director General) 'Greece1b - EXBAA-IGME' Albert Caruana 'Malta- MTI-CS' Branislav Zec 'Slovakia - SGUDS'

10 Key People page 10 I EGS 2015 Annual Report NATIONAL DELEGATES They represent the National contact points of each Geological Survey. 'Albania - AGS' Arben Pambuku 'Norway - NGU' Jan Host 'Austria - GBA' Hans-Georg Krenmayr 'Poland - PGI' Ilona Smietanska 'Belgium - GSB' Michiel Dusar 'Portugal - LNEG' Ruben Dias 'Bosnia and Herzegovina2b - GSRS' 'Croatia - HGI-CGS' 'Cyprus - GSD' 'Czech Rep. - CGS' 'Denmark - GEUS' 'Estonia - EGK' 'Finland GTK' 'France - BRGM' Boban Jolović Josip Halamic Zomenia Zomeni Ivana Svojtkova Jens Stockmarr Margus Raha Jarmo Kohonen Pierre Nehlig 'Portugal - LNEG' 'Romania - GIR' 'Russia - VSEGEI' 'Slovakia - SGUDS' 'Slovenia1- GeoZS' 'Spain - IGME' 'Sweden - SGU' 'Switzerland - SWISSTOPO' Rita Caldeira Stefan Marincea Vitaly Shatov Alena Klukanova Jasna Šinigoj Manuel Regueiro Lisbeth Hildebrand Peter Hayoz 'Germany - BGR' Birgit Kuhns 'Ukraine - Geoinform' Boris Malyuk 'Greece - IGME' Kostas Laskaridis 'United Kingdom - BGS' Vicky Hards 'Hungary - MFGI' Annamaria Nador 'Ireland - GSI' Taly Hunter-Williams 'Italy - ISPRA' Luca Guerrieri 'Malta- MTI-CS' Charles Galea 'Netherlands - TNO' Tirza M. van Daalen

11 Key People page 11 I EGS 2015 Annual Report EXPERT GROUPS CHAIRS MARINE GEOLOGY Chair: Henry Vallius, Geological Survey of Finland GTK Deputy Chair: Alan Stevenson, British Geological Survey BGS EARTH OBSERVATION GEOHAZARDS Chair: Gerardo Herrera, Geological Survey of Spain IGME Deputy Chair (for GeoHazards): Eleftheria Poyiadji, Greek Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration EKBAA-IGME Deputy Chair (for Earth Observation): Claudie Carnec, French Bureau de Reserches Géologiques et Minières BRGM GEOCHEMISTRY Chair: Clemens Reimann, Geological Survey of Norway NGU Deputy Chair: Anna Ladenberger, Geological Survey of Sweden SGU GEOENERGY Chair: Peter Britze, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland GEUS Deputy Chair (for Carbon Capture Storage): Kris Piessens, Geological Survey of Belgium GSB Deputy Chair (for Fossil Fuels and Geothermal Energy): Serge van Gessel, Geological Survey of the Netherlands TNO MINERAL RESOURCES Chair: Nikolaos Arvanitidis, Geological Survey of Sweden SGU Deputy-Chair: Daniel Cassard, French Bureau de Recerches Géologiques et Minières BRGM SPATIAL INFORMATION EXPERT GROUP (SIEG) Chair: François Robida, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières BRGM Deputy Chair: Jarmo Kohonen, Geological Survey of Finland GTK INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE Chair: Marek Graniczny, Polish Geological Institute (PGI) Deputy Chair: Dirk Kuester, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources BGR, Germany SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS TASK FORCE Chair: Rainer Baritz, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources BGR, Germany Deputy Chair: Florence Quesnel, Bureau de Reserches Géologiques et Minières BRGM, France WATER RESOURCES Chair: Hans Peter Broers, Built Environment and Geosciences, Geological Survey of the Netherlands TNO Deputy Chair: Klaus Hinsby, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland GEUS

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13 page 13 I EGS 2015 Annual Report The shape of our business SPATIAL INFORMATION EXPERT GROUP (SIEG) Chair: François Robida Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières BRGM Deputy Chair: Jarmo Kohonen Geological Survey of Finland GTK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2014, the SIEG focused its activity on EGDI, finalizing the EGDI-Scope project, and providing material to the Excom to define and organize the EGDI-Bridge follow-up action. Two H2020 proposals that could contribute to the building of EGDI have been prepared and submitted on 14 January 2015 with a contribution of most surveys: GNEISS (the Geoscience e-infrastructure for Science and Society) and EPOS (work package on geological thematic services). Regarding INSPIRE implementation and maintenance, EGS has been selected by the Commission to manage the Earth Science thematic cluster. In 2015, SIEG will pursue the development of EGDI-Bridge, and contribute to the definition of ERANET programme. MISSION AND VISION From the date of its creation, the prime mission of the Spatial Information Expert Group has been to coordinate the contribution of EuroGeoSurveys to the INSPIRE implementation. While the implementation phase is now well on track, the SIEG will focus on the design and development of the EGDI (European Geological Data Infrastructure), a strategic objective of EGS. This development should be run together with the other projects and initiatives that are run (i.e. Minerals4EU). The Expert Group has a mission to contribute to the definition of the European policies which aim at developing the European information infrastructure (INSPIRE, SEIS, Copernicus). It is also a place to share expertise between EGS members. Spatial information expertise is a key asset in the design and development of the European Geological Knowledge infrastructure which is at the core of EGS strategy, and this expertise, through the SIEG, has to be mobilized in a transverse way, in support to the other EGS expert groups to make sure that the infrastructure that will be developed is in line with EGS strategy. SIEG has also the responsibility to define how the EGS infrastructure can fit/collaborate with other infrastructures (national spatial data infrastructures, GEOSS, SEIS, EPOS ). As the other Expert Groups, the Spatial Information EG has also the mission to define and propose projects that could be funded by the EC, and could contribute to the global objectives of EGS. SCOPE AND FOCUS The main focus of SIEG in current period is to support the implementation of INSPIRE by the EGS members, and to implement EGDI. Spatial Information is really transverse in the business of the Geological Surveys; it is an important dimension of almost any information managed by the surveys. Therefore, the SIEG has strong connections will all the other EGS Expert Groups that cover thematic areas, and which contribute to the EGS information strategy in their respective domain. The SIEG focuses on the global consistency of the way (spatial) information has to be specified, managed and delivered to provide harmonized services at the European scale.

14 page 14 I EGS 2015 Annual Report ACTIVITY REPORT 1. MEETINGS The SIEG had 4 face to face meetings during the last period: 30 and 31/01/14 Paris, 17/06/14 - Aalborg (during INSPIRE conference), 03/09/14 - Brussels (linked with EGDI-Scope meeting), 26/11/14 - Paris (focus on INSPIRE thematic cluster), and one teleconference on 02/07/14. Members of the SIEG were also invited to different meetings related to EGDI-Scope, EPOS, INSPIRE MIG, GEO/GEOSS, OneGeology SIEG Chair has taken part to the EGS Governance Task Force work. From EGDI-Scope to EGDI-Bridge EGDI-Scope project was technically closed end of May 2014, and formally concluded through a final review session in Brussels on 3rd October The project was positively evaluated by the Commission. The final result of EGDI-Scope is the Implementation Plan for the EGDI, which is framing the main scope, targets and roadmap of the envisaged follow-up. The project also realized a high level of outreach among many relevant stakeholders at EU- and international level. Beyond the concrete deliverables of the scoping study, a major outcome is the commitment that the geological surveys have demonstrated to get the EGDI implementation process on its way, and the investments they have been prepared to make for that. The level of commitment should in principle suffice to move the EGDI into the next stage, which will bring a higher level of collaboration among the surveys when conceiving and executing EU projects that concern the delivery of geoscience data and information at the European scale. The situation mid 2014 is characterised by individual EU projects that address a certain data or information type, including a harmonisation and standardisation effort, and establishing some sort of dissemination mode, usually a web portal that will then typically maintained for three years at most. The desired situation is that such individual projects deliver the constituents of the EGDI, which is maintained, managed and further developed under a joint strategy of the European geological surveys. While individual projects will deliver EGDI building blocks, a suitable funding mechanism for the EGDI building has yet to be found and will not be available until at least the end of To bridge the intermediate period, the EGS General Meeting of March 2014 agreed to establish the EGDI Bridge project. Following this decision, EGS members have specified their possible contribution to EGDI Bridge, mostly in-kind, and a project plan has been developed by the EGDI-Team (i.e. the core team members plus the Spatial Information Expert Group). The bridging project was designed only to get the EGDI implementation process started. A fully operational EGDI will require a substantial and stable funding base; the funding issue is one of the main problems that is to be solved in the period ahead. After consulting with BRGM, TNO and Geus, who each volunteered to assume a leading role, François Robida of BRGM agreed to take the overall lead during the upcoming bridging phase, with co-chairs provided by TNO and Geus. The tasks and responsibilities include: To implement the EGDI Bridge project according to the abovementioned plan.

15 page 15 I EGS 2015 Annual Report To further develop and promote the EGDI concept. To establish an EGDI board (in the lines of the report on governance structure of the EGDI scoping study), which will oversee the overall development of EGDI, divide tasks, and serve as supervisory board over individual EGDI projects. The EGDI board will also be the face and figurehead of EGDI in Europe, superseding individual projects when it comes to communications and external relationships. To coordinate the abovementioned contributions of the surveys during the upcoming bridging phase; To give high priority to the first task, which is to draft a proposal for EGDI implementation under the EINFRA call (e-infrastructures for virtual research environments), that should be delivered by 14 January Geus will coordinate this task, TNO will commit resources to writing and editing. To address the long-term funding issue, and device a funding strategy (involving EuroGeoSurveys); To establish appropriate mode to combine François chairmanship of the EuroGeoSurveys Spatial Information Expert Group with leadership of EGDI. The combination of the two is potentially a strong one, but clarity as to the role of the national experts in the group has to be provided. GNEISS H2020 PROPOSAL GNEISS (the Geoscience e-infrastructure for Science and Society) is the proposal, coordinated by GEUS, and submitted under the EINFRA call. The objective of this infrastructure goes beyond a data infrastructure to offer a complete set of research tools for geoscientists (from geological surveys as well as from academic organisations). GNEISS will be an internet-driven platform providing European and other international research communities with data, information and tools in support of innovative science. A corner stone of GNEISS will be the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) that will make available numerous datasets that have been harmonised in accordance with European standards during past EC-funded projects. GNEISS will also, through its service-driven architecture, provide seamless access to large national geoscience repositories, which - despite not being semantically harmonised yet - are extremely attractive for researchers from many science disciplines. A number of services, tools and online collaboration facilities will be implemented on top of the data infrastructure. Some of these will be generic, whilst others will reside in domain-specific virtual workspaces where they, through integration with data and services from other relevant e-infrastructures, will provide scientists in interdisciplinary fields of research with tailor-made online facilities. GNEISS has a budget of about 8M for 39 partners (28 Geological Surveys). The competition on this call will be hard with 95 proposals submitted for EINFRA (118 proposals altogether for EINFRA and EINFRA , for a global budget of 80.5 M ). EPOS H2020 PROPOSAL The connection between the EPOS community and EGS has permitted to EGS to lead a work package about geological services in the EPOS proposal to the INFRADEV call (Individual implementation and operation of ESFRI project). Given the size of the project, the number of participating geological surveys has been limited. In coordination with the Secretariat, it was decided that BRGM would lead the work package behalf of EGS (which is an Associate Partner), with participation of

16 page 16 I EGS 2015 Annual Report GEUS, GSI and ISPRA. Besides this contribution, it must be noted that BGS plays an important role in the development of the global infrastructure and core services of EPOS. This project will give the opportunity for EGS to enhance the relationship with the geological and geophysical research organisations in Europe. INGV (leader of EPOS project) is also a member of the GNEISS project, on behalf of the EPOS consortium.

17 page 17 I EGS 2015 Annual Report INSPIRE THEMATIC CLUSTER INTRODUCTION In the frame of INSPIRE maintenance, the JRC has defined clusters of data themes. EGS has been selected to chair/facilitate a Earth Science data themes (Geology, Soil, Natural Risk Zones, Mineral and Energy Resources) cluster platform (new INSPIRE FORUM) for exchanging information, best practices, guidelines to implement INSPIRE in a harmonised- agreed way, relevant global standards follow up and evaluation. The INSPIRE thematic clusters collaboration platform was developed and officially launched on 11/12/ 2014 ( ec.europa.eu/ ). The participation (travel costs) of the EuroGeoSurveys experts is covered by a 6 month contract (renewable for another 6 month period). An active contribution of EGS experts (from SIEG and other thematic Exp ert Groups) will be critical for the success of this initiative. The Earth Science Thematic Cluster is facilitated by the nominated EGS experts (led by Tim Duffy BGS, UK) : INSPIRE Data Specification Soils - see Geology - see geology Natural Risk zones see profile/1817/natural-risk-zones Einar Eberhardt (BGR) Tim Duffy (BGS) Matt Harrison (BGS) Other actions Collaborations with JRC : According to the work plan defined in January 2014, some joint SIEG/JRC actions have been achieved (see details in EGS/JRC report to be delivered soon) on : - Joint workshop to exchange information on the use of cloud computing technologies - Developing Research Data And Service Infrastructure for Danube Macro-Region (Integration of the OneGeology Europe platform with the Danube) - EGS in coordination with IUGS/CGI has sent a concrete proposal for a technical work on an Interoperability SW tool to facilitate (automate) the INSPIRE / GeoSciML, EarthResourceML transformation. This concrete small project proposal is now being evaluated by JRC. - A concrete proposal for a small exploratory research project called Testing a Linked Open Data approach to delivering data in INSPIRE compliant form was prepared by the EGS experts together with the some InGeoCloudS project partners. The project proposal is now being evaluated by JRC. Mineral resources - see profile/1825/mineral-resources Energy - see energy-resources Jouni Vuollo (GTK) Rob van Ede (TNO) OneGeology-Europe - Maintenance of the portal and catalogue by BRGM and CGS - Continuation of OneG-E+ efforts to

18 page 18 I EGS 2015 Annual Report increase the numbers of countries contributing - Discussion on SLA agreement to support Pangeo portal (ie OneGE) maintenance. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES Following the submission of GNEISS and EPOS on 14 January, and the kick-off of the INSPIRE thematic cluster, the priorities of SIEG in 2015 will be to implement the EGDI-Bridge plan. The contribution of SIEG in the design of the ERANET should also be clearly identified, as it is clear that the SIEG member s expertise would be critical to undertake actions to develop better tools, methods, processes and standards to produce new information and models (including 3D). As already stated in the 2013 report, with the initiation of the implementation of EGDI, the role of SIEG could evolve in different ways (towards a more operational role?) that will need to be discussed within the SIEG and within EGS. LIST OF MEMBERS Country Survey Expert ALBANIA AGS Carlo Moisiu ALBANIA AGS Olgert Jaupaj AUSTRIA GBA Christine Hörfarter AUSTRIA GBA Werner Stöckl BELGIUM GSB Pierre-Yves Declercq CROATIA HGI_CGS Mario Dolić CYPRUS GSD Ioannis Panayides CZECH REPUBLIC CZS Lucie Kondrova CZECH REPUBLIC CZS Zdenek Venera CZECH REPUBLIC CZS Dana Capova DENMARK GEUS Jorgen Tulstrup DENMARK GEUS Mikael Pedersen ESTONIA EGK FINLAND GTK Jarmo Kohonen FINLAND GTK Juoni Vuollo FRANCE BRGM François Robida FRANCE BGRM Sylvain Grellet GERMANY BGR Kristine Asch GERMANY BGR Rainer Baritz GERMANY (STATES) Gerold diepolder GREECE HUNGARY MFGI IRELAND GSI Mary Carter ITALY ISPRA Valentina Campo ITALY ISPRA Carlo Cipolloni ITALY ISPRA Marco Pantaloni ITALY ISPRA Maria Pia Congi ITALY Emilia- Romagna Michela Grandi LITHUANIA LGT Aliona Olsevskaja LUXEMBOURG SGL Robert Colbach MALTA MRA NORWAY NGU Jan Host NORWAY NGU Per Ryhaug NORWAY NGU Frank Haugan POLAND PGI Urszula Stepien POLAND PGI Tomasz Nalecz POLAND PGI Paulina Nowakowska PORTUGAL LNEG Teresa Cunha PORTUGAL LNEG Gabriel Luis PORTUGAL LNEG Judite Fernandez PORTUGAL LNEG Lidia Quental PORTUGAL LNEG Aureta Pereira ROMANIA GIR Anca-Marina Vajdea RUSSIAN FEDERATION VSEGEI Olga Shneider SLOVAK REPUBLIC SGUDS SLOVENIA GEOZS Matija Krivic SLOVENIA GEOZS Jasna Sinigoj SPAIN IGME Ángel Prieto Martin SPAIN IGME Maria Mancebo SPAIN Catalonia Xavier Berastegui SWEDEN Nikolaos Aarvanitidis SWEDEN SGU Andreas Gref SWEDEN SGU Lars Kristian Stolen SWITZERLAND SWISSTOPO Nils Oesterling THE NETHERLANDS TNO Paul Bogaard THE NETHERLANDS TNO Rob van der Krogt THE NETHERLANDS TNO Robert Jan van Leeuwen UK BGS Mathew Harrison UK BGS Garry Baker UK BGS Katy Lee UK BGS Tim Duffy UKRAINE SGSU UKRAINE Geoinform Boris Malyuk

19 page 19 I EGS 2015 Annual Report MINERAL RESOURCES Chair: Nikos Arvanitidis Geological Survey of Sweden SGU Deputy-Chair: Daniel Cassard Bureau de Reserches Géologiques et Minières BRGM, France EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Minerals Resources Expert Group (MREG) held plenary meetings in Uppsala and Dublin during the year, as well as holding bilateral (and indeed trilateral and multilateral) meetings on the side of other meetings. The MREG participates in working groups, projects, networks, conferences and meetings which further benefit the overall aims of the Group. Most meetings take place in Europe but MREG representatives were also active on the wider world stage advancing international cooperation. MREG Members provide access to essential and critical raw materials information within EU Member States and through research, development and innovation contribute to the Commission s goal of developing a more sustainable minerals supply within and for Europe. Minerals4EU is MREG s flagship project, coordinated by GTK. Through Minerals4EU, EGS Members aim to become the leading network for information and intelligence on European mineral resources, providing tools and expertise to enhance resource efficiency, safeguard minerals supply and support sustainable minerals development within Europe. MREG has been actively involved in EC working groups contributing to policy and strategic initiatives aiming to create a sustainable supply of mineral raw materials within the EU. MREG also carries out its work through smaller working or task groups. During 2014 six such task groups addressed specific issues, such as reserves and resources, cooperation with the JRC, identifying H2020 Calls of interest to MREG, and a compilation of National Programmes or Projects related to minerals. A significant achievement was the publication of Minerals in Your Life in March MISSION AND VISION The mission of the EuroGeoSurveys Mineral Resources Expert Group (EGS MREG) is to provide the best available mineral expertise and information based on the knowledge base of member geological surveys, for policy, communication and education purposes at the European level, focusing on strengthening the position of the European minerals industry towards resource sustainability and competitive growth. The EGS MREG aims to have a leading role within a European mineral knowledge base and information network, or other form of cooperation that will provide innovative tools and expertise to support a sustainable minerals supply for Europe. European context of minerals issues The main target of the EU initiated strategies, in relation to raw materials, aim to: Reduce import dependency and promote the production and export of raw materials by improving supply conditions from EU and other sources. ( Reducing Europe's import dependency on the raw materials that are critical to Europe's industries ). Increase resource efficiency, including recycling, and alternatives through substitution ( Providing Europe with enough flexibility and alternatives in the supply of important raw materials ). Putting Europe to the forefront in raw materials sectors ( Making Europe a leader in the capabilities related to exploration,

20 page 20 I EGS 2015 Annual Report extraction, processing, recycling and substitution by 2020 ). Mitigating the related negative environmental and social impacts ( taking into account the importance of mitigating the negative environmental and social impacts of some materials during their life cycle ). In this respect mineral resources information sharing and networking by European Geological Surveys is essential. The SIP of the EIP RM highlights the need to establish and maintain a common and uniform EU Geological Knowledge Base, including Minerals Intelligence Information. Such a knowledge base will allow a common European exploration effort for natural resources as well as effective policy and decision making related to the subsurface. Specific objectives and targets of the SIP EIP RM actions to which such a knowledge base can contribute include: Better insight into the distribution of known raw material resources. A prerequisite for finding new and as yet undiscovered resources particularly at depth e.g. through innovative 3D/4D modelling applications. Innovation in understanding and predicting mineral occurrences in 3 and 4 dimensions through advanced modelling applications and space observation technologies. The use of standards for the reporting of primary and secondary resources and reserves (land and marine) which can contribute to enhancing investment conditions for the mining industry. Innovation in exploration and mining technologies which can contribute to the discovery of as yet unknown resources (e.g. marine resources, low grade deposits, deep seated ore bodies) and/or can facilitate the working of currently uneconomic deposits. New production technologies to mitigate environmental and social impacts. Reprocessing mine waste which may be an important source of minerals and metals which could not be recovered using earlier technologies. The analysis of global raw materials flows and trends which can inform and enhance strategic decision and policy making. Better networking between all players facilitating the exchange of best practices and including them in an improved regulatory framework. Europe s mineral potential is under-explored, both with regard to the subsurface (particularly deeper than 150 metres) and the sea-bed within EU Member States' exclusive economic zones (possibly containing metals such as copper, zinc, gold, silver and rare earth elements). Opportunities also exist within the EU today, for mining small deposits. The existence of mineral deposits on the sea-floor could lead to world-wide competition for marine mineral deposits. A framework of stable economic and technological conditions will facilitate the development of sustainable and resource efficient exploitation of minerals in Europe. There is therefore a challenge to better understand ore genesis and direct exploration at deeper, unexploited levels of the Earth s crust. This may be possible by developing and applying innovative exploration technologies (3D/4D) to locate deep-seated deposits. REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 4.1 Plenary meetings Two plenary meetings of the MREG were held during the year one in Uppsala at the SGU on 23rd and 24th January and the other in Dublin at the GSI on 29th September, prior to the Minerals4EU Project Meeting.

21 page 21 I EGS 2015 Annual Report EU-FUNDED PROJECTS Minerals4EU Minerals4EU is a 2-year EU project (started ) under DG Research and the FP7 funding scheme. The project is also of interest to DG Enterprise (to be incorporated into DG Growth) which has responsibility for the mineral raw materials sector. Minerals4EU aims to address the objectives of the EU raw materials knowledge base action, as part of the SIP of the EIP-RM. It is a strategic target both for the Commission and the National Geological Surveys (NGS) of Europe which are the key providers of pan-european minerals data and services, complemented by other organizations. Minerals4EU will create a knowledge-based data platform (WP5) for European non-energy raw materials aiming to become Europe s permanent service (WP2) in providing information and intelligence on minerals. It will deliver a wide range of products including mineral statistics (WP4) and a foresight study (WP6) on primary and secondary mineral resources. Important beneficiaries are: Government - EU - National - Regional - Local policy and decision makers Authorities managing and evaluating cohesion policy programmes and projects Industry - Mining - Mining downstream industries - Traders - Financial institutions Associations - European - National associations - NGOs Academics Minerals4EU will operate as an interactive, transparent and open source of standardized cross-border intelligence for minerals, easily accessible for all categories of end user. Any stakeholder will be able to access information on Europe s potential mineral resources, recycling and resource efficiency. Minerals4EU will develop a responsible, authorized and reliable mineral data source and thus contribute to sustainable and secure supply of mineral resources. Significant progress has been made towards the project objectives during the first year. Developing the concept of the minerals intelligence network and the development of a permanent body (WP2) will enable in the long term updates of Minerals4EU services such as the web portal and the European Minerals Yearbook. Decisions on the general shape, size, structure and funding of the Permanent Body will be taken after careful consideration during the planning and implementation phases of the project. Statistics on raw materials (WP4) production and trade were compiled with data related to exploration, resources and reserves providing new datasets. The principles of the Minerals Knowledge Data Platform architecture (WP5) follows the implementing rules of the INSPIRE Directive (2007) to make data and services interoperable across Europe over a distributed infrastructure. The web portal provides data and related metadata on the whole mineral value chain from exploration to treatment of end-of-life products and the generation of "new" materials, use and demand. The outputs will be appropriate for use from local/regional level (e.g. land use planning) up to the pan-european level. The first version of the foresight study on raw materials supply and demand in the EU, with special attention given to critical minerals, is underway (WP6). This version will include an introductory part presenting the background, purpose and concept of the Study, and a

22 page 22 I EGS 2015 Annual Report second part that shows the coverage of the individual topics and case studies. EURARE EURARE is a project funded by the European Commission for the 'Development of a sustainable exploitation scheme for Europe's Rare Earth ore deposits' that will safeguard the uninterrupted supply of REE raw materials and products crucial for EU industry sectors, such as automotive, electronics, machinery and chemicals, in a sustainable, economically viable and environmentally friendly way. The Geological Surveys involved in the project have determined that Europe has a number of areas with suitable geology for REE deposits. These include alkaline igneous rocks such as those found in the Gardar Province of south west Greenland (Kvanefjeld and Kringlerne exploration projects) and within the Fennoscandian Shield (including the carbonatites of Fen in Norway and Sokli in Finland and the Norra Kärr syenite in Sweden). They also include secondary placer deposits such as those in Greece and Serbia. Based on the information received from ongoing advanced exploration projects there is potential for more than 6Bt of ore resources, more than 38Mt TREO (total rare earth oxides) and more than 10Mt HREO (heavy rare earth oxides). ProSUM The aim of the recently approved ProSUM project - Prospecting Secondary raw materials in the Urban Mine and mining waste - is to create an EU Information Network (EUIN) that allows partners in the network to provide and use data in an inventory for waste streams with a significant potential to serve as a source of Critical Raw Materials (CRM). This includes waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), end of life vehicles (ELV), batteries and mine waste. Access to the inventory will be through the EU Urban Mine Knowledge Data Platform (EU-UMKDP) and web portal. The EUIN will assist in the development of the EU-UMKDP by providing current and new data on products put on the market and on past and ongoing mining tailings containing CRMs. The data network partners working together with the research partners will jointly deliver structured data, standard methodologies for sampling and analysis of CRM content in WEEE, ELVs and spent batteries. This allows for better presentation and harmonisation of data as well as improved coverage and accessibility of data in the future for a wide range of possible end-users, including policy makers. The basic architecture has been designed to allow for the development of the knowledge platform to include additional materials in the future. Rejected H2020 project proposals Defining Mineral deposit Areas of public importance 2020-MinArea2020 (under Mineral deposits of public importance ). Minerals4Society (under Strategic international dialogues and cooperation on raw materials with technologically advanced countries ). Raw Materials Commitments (RMC) The EUMINET European Minerals Information Network commitment is a contribution by Geological Surveys to the European Union Raw Materials Knowledge Base and intelligence capacity. Building on the ongoing EGDI-Scope and Minerals4EU projects, its general objectives are, by 2020, to stimulate investment in the exploration and exploitation of EU mineral resources, as well as to provide data, knowledge and tools for their sustainable management, and technological services across the minerals value chain. The SC5 13e 'Raw materials intelligence capacity' support and coordination action call which may be seen as a partial continuation of the Minerals4EU project will be addressed through a new proposal (RAFFIA) involving certain geological surveys (BGR, BGS, BRGM and GTK), EGS acting as an umbrella for other geological surveys and key external partners.

23 page 23 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Other known commitments with involvement of Geological Surveys are, ExplOre European Exploration Project REMIND EU Responsible mining demonstrations: best practice and capacity building OPTIMIN_2020 Optimizing the Minerals Policy Framework at EU and National Levels by 2020 EU raw materials policy related efforts H2020/Challenge 5 Advisory Group (H2020/C5 AG) - A consultation report on Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5 strategic programming for : synthesis of H2020 SC5 Advisory Group discussions was delivered. ERECON -EU Rare Earth's Competency Network - A Final Report was delivered at the Conference in Milan, 16 October Critical Raw Materials ad hoc group - A new list was officially launched at the Raw Materials High Level conference in Athens. raw-materials/critical/index_en.htm Raw Materials Supply Group and SIP for EIP on RM activities. A report on Recommendations on the framework conditions for the extraction of non-energy raw materials in the European Union was delivered. EGS MREG was approached late in the year by the EFG with a view to participation in a consortium to be led by them to answer H2020 Call SC5 13f Strategic international dialogues and cooperation with raw materials producing countries and industry. MREG decided to pursue possible collaboration with the EFG but with IGME (Spain) as coordinator. Task teams Of seven identified issues it was decided, following a vote, to take actions and proceed with five. Task teams were set up to address the issues. Almost all MREG members are involved in one task team or another. The five issues addressed by the task teams are: The EGS JRC cooperation agreement, addressing mineral resources. The UNECE Expert Group on Resource Classification (EGRC). The preparation of the Critical Raw Materials map(s) of Europe as an EGS MREG deliverable. The creation of a national minerals project list/database. Communication with PERC. The work of all five task teams is progressing satisfactorily and some of them are close to final reporting. The two tasks not supported were: Contribution to the Encyclopedia of Minerals and Energy Policy. Participation in MineralCare project. A task team was appointed to evaluate which of the H2020 Calls should be responded to by MREG. The task team has delivered its report, recommending that the following projects should be pursued under MREG stewardship: Raw Materials Intelligence Capacity (SC5-13e-2015). Innovation Friendly Policy Framework (SC5-13c-2015). Raw Materials Research and Innovation Coordination (SC5-13d-2015).

24 page 24 I EGS 2015 Annual Report INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION MREG was represented at the following meetings: GM of ASGMI in Peru. 1st International Mining Congress on August 2014 in Managua. EGS-OAGS meeting in Dar es Salaam. UNECE Expert Group on Resource Classification, Geneva, Geneva, 30 April 2 May CONFERENCE RELATED ACTIVITIES MREG was represented at the following conferences: GEO European projects workshop, June in Athens Raw Materials University day, 19 June in Athens Raw Materials High Level conference on 20 June in Athens under the Greek EU presidency Athens Declaration on sustainable access to resources EuroScience Open Forum, ESOF 2014, Copenhagen, 21-26, June esof2014 ERES 2014-European Rare Earth Resources on Milos Island, 4-7 September 2014, MIN WIN-WIN: Establishing Europe-wide minerals reporting standards the key to reducing risk and increasing opportunity, 21 November in Brussels Minerals in the Circular Economy (MINCE) in Espoo, Finland, November OTHER ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Cooperation with ETP SMR in the light of: - Ongoing and upcoming research programmes, and other initiatives (Horizon 2020, SIP for EIP on RM, ERA-MIN). - Joint efforts to raise the visibility of mineral raw materials at the EU e.g. H2020/C5 Advisory Group. Minerals in Your Life was launched in Brussels on 25 March, Challenges and opportunities The emphasis of EGS MREG needs to go beyond its present role largely a lobbying and advisory service, and become an Institution and active partner (using the expertise and involvement of all geological surveys) participating in projects, becoming involved in coordinating and support actions, and contributing to the development of minerals policy. This will include: New opportunities for EGS and individual Geological Surveys: - Further implementing the three pillars and 24 action areas of the European Commission s Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials (EIP-RM), which in total contain 97 specific actions, along with related raw materials commitments (RMC) and H2020 calls, through active involvement in the Operational, Sherpa and High Level Groups. - Participating in the development of documents, white papers and communications, such as providing input to the updating of the list of Critical Raw Materials and on Recommendations for the extraction of non-energy raw materials in the European Union. - Participating in the H2020/Challenge 5 Advisory Group.

25 page 25 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Changing the activity profile for MREG, for example: - Seeking partnerships for networking and the exploitation of project results. - Providing minerals data and intelligence along with services and products. - Contributing to applied research and technology development (e.g. exploration, waste re-use, mineral processing). The changed focus will support A coherent resource-efficient policy framework: - Recycle and re-use waste materials and by-products from all mineral value chain activities in order to increase the supply of valuable secondary resources. Many critical minerals and metals may be collected through reprocessing of some mine waste. However, even with the important contribution from recycling or reprocessing, to secure sufficient supply it will still be necessary to extract from primary mineral deposits, focusing on: - Applying new technologies for deep exploration and mining. - Turning low- grade ores into exploitable resources. - Reducing the volume of mine waste and the need for large tailings facilities by converting the mine waste to useable products or reprocessing them to recover valuable minerals. PLANS FOR 2015 The following tasks/challenges will be addressed in 2015: Complete the Minerals4EU project. Follow up implementation of SIP EIP-RM thematic priorities and actions, as well as related projects. Complete the work and deliver the outcomes of the task teams in place. Continue to raise the position of minerals in Europe 2020 Strategy through active involvement in Research and Innovation (R&I) strategy initiatives and agendas, and participation in EU projects and networks, e.g. EURARE, ProSUM. Seek an involvement and concrete role in RawMATERS, the winning consortium of the Knowledge Innovation Community on Raw Materials (EIT KIC RM), with the Geological Surveys of Finland (GTK) and Sweden (SGU) being major players. Converting the Challenge 5 Advisory Group reporting of RM priorities into H2020 calls. Continue to work within Europe and internationally to highlight the importance of exploration and development of primary mineral raw materials, knowledge-based intelligence networking, resource efficiency and supply sustainability issues through waste re-use. Position the minerals agenda in the context of the proposed ERA-NET for geosciences, as it is one of the three main thematic priorities. Continue active involvement with the UNECE Expert Group on Resources Classification, and seek to strengthen the links with the PERC community and the EFG. Progress EGS and international cooperation on mineral resources beyond Africa to Latin America, Canada, USA, Australia and China. Progress the cooperation agreement with JRC, mainly in the fields of CRM and LCA studies.

26 page 26 I EGS 2015 Annual Report LIST OF MEMBERS Country Survey Expert ALBANIA AGS Arben Pambuku GSA Dashamir Gega AUSTRIA GBA Maria Heinrich GBA GBA Albert Schedl Sebastian Pfleider BELGIUM GSB Christian Burlet CROATIA HGI_CGS Miko Slobodan HGI_CGS Željko Dedić CYPRUS GSD Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou CZECH REPUBLIC CGS Ivo Sitensly CGS Petr Rambousek DENMARK GEUS Karen Hanghøj GEUS GEUS Jørgen Tulstrup Diogo Rosa ESTONIA EGK Mare Kukk FINLAND GTK Asko Käpyaho Raimo LAHTINEN Saku VUORI France BRGM Daniel Cassard Patrice Christmann GERMANY BGR Michael Szurlies Henrike Sievers Torsten Graupner GREECE IGME Kostas Papavasileiou IGME Kostas Laskaridis HUNGARY MFGI Annamaria Nador MFGI Zoltán Horváth IRELAND GSI Gerry Stanley ITALY ISPRA Mauro Lucarini ITALY ISPRA ISPRA ISPRA Emilia- Romagna Fiorenzo Fumanti Marco Di Leginio Lucio Martarelli Maria Teresa DeNardo LITHUANIA LGT Audrone Dumsiene Luxembourg SGL Malta MRA Michael Schembri NORWAY NGU Tom Heldal Jan Høst Schiellerup Henrik Rognvald Boyd POLAND PGI Stanislaw Wolkowicz Stanislaw MIKULSKI Barbara Radwanek-Bak Janina wiszniewska Portugal LNEG Daniel Oliveira ROMANIA GIR Marian Munteanu RUSSIAN FEDERATION VSEGEI Grigory Brekhov Vitaly Shatov Aleksey Sokolov Boris Mikhailov SLOVAK REPUBLIC SGUDS Peter Balaz SGUDS Zoltan Nemeth Slovenia GeoZS Duška Rokavec Žibret Gorazd SPAIN IGME Manuel Regueiro IGME Juan Locutora IGME Santiago Martin Sweden SGU Nikos Arvanitidis SGU Lisbeth Hildebrand SWITZERLAND SWISSTOPO Rainer Kündig THE NETHERLANDS TNO Paul Bogaard TNO Michiel van der Meulen UK BGS Evi Petavratzi BGS Gus Gunn BGS Andrew Bloodworth UKRAINE Geoinform Boris Malyuk

27 page 27 I EGS 2015 Annual Report INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE Chair: Marek Graniczny Polish Geological Institute (PGI) Deputy Chair: Dirk Kuester Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources BGR, Germany EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EGS Task Force on International Cooperation and Development, chaired by Marek Graniczny (PGI) and Dirk Kuester (BGR) as deputy was established to intensify and improve international cooperation, starting with Africa in The capacity of EuroGeoSurveys to establish stronger ties with Geological Surveys outside Europe was discussed during several institutional meetings in the last year. This was based on assumptions that the growing demand for mineral resources in EU Member States, the bulk of which is located outside Europe, offers also opportunities for cooperation projects of geological surveys, due to their high potential to provide substantial information, expertise, capacity building and advice in the field of mapping, mineral resources, geoinformation, geohazards and geoheritage. MISSION AND VISION The mission of the ICDTF is to make of EGS the European center of excellence for geological cooperation with European countries which are not EGS members as well as with countries and organisations in other continents, so to bring EGS to gradually take the lead at global level in advancing geological cooperation and development. To achieve this mission, the ICDTF will focus on the following actions: To bring together the expertise of the EGS members in international cooperation and development; To promote a close cooperation and workwith other EGS Expert Groups; To initiate specific actions in support of on EGS priority topics and main strategies; To cooperate with institutions and organisations around the world; To provide independent advice to the EU institutions for the matters of competence. The vision of the ICDTF is to increase the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Geological Surveys of Europe science delivery and to capitalise on International Cooperation and Development (science) opportunities. Due to the cross-cutting nature of its mandate, the ICDTF will cooperate closely with the other EGS Expert Groups when topics of respective competence are concerned. SCOPE AND FOCUS The EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) International Cooperation and Development Task Force (ICDTF) acts as a tool for implementing projects beyond the European Union (EU) borders of high priority for EGS, especially those consistent with the current geology-related policies of the European Commission (EC). Even if the main focus is on countries and areas having formal or effective dialogues with the EU, and according to the EC priorities, the ICDTF can also carry out activities wherever the EGS members run operations, if this is suggested or considered relevant by the EGS members concerned. In line with the EGS Code of Conduct, the ICDTF operates in the collective interest of the EGS members, and does not carry out actions in competition with any of the EGS members or that can be perceived as in conflict with their individual interests.

28 page 28 I EGS 2015 Annual Report An initial focus of the ICDTF is on: 1. Assisting the EC in the implementation of the Industrial Policy Dialogues with partner countries 2. Developing a strategy to work with African geological administrations for strengthening the Organization of African Geological Surveys (OAGS), focusing on enforcing sustainable mineral resources exploitation, natural resources governance, supporting improved livelihood among miners and geoheritage management, as well as preventing and mitigating natural disasters, by establishing long-term strategic cooperation in these areas 3. Expanding the cooperation to Latin America (Organisation of Ibero-American Geological Surveys - ASGMI), South-East Asia (Committee for the Coordination of Geoscience Programmes in South-East Asia - CCOP) and other areas or the world with similar demands ACTIVITY REPORT Several members of the Task Force were continuing their activities in The contract for implementation of the Pan-African Feasibility Study Geoscientific knowledge and skills in African Geological Surveys has been signed by EC DG DEVCO and EGS authorities on July 19th 2013 (Contract ). The overall objective of the feasibility study is to develop a long-term strategic cooperation concept to strengthen operational and administrative capacity, knowledge and skills of geological administration of African countries in governance of natural resources, enforcing sustainable mineral resources exploitation. A list of the main events related to this study includes: EGS OAGS Workshop, 27 March 2014, Brussels. During the meeting the following important topics were discussed: Perspectives of cooperation with World Bank, UNECA/AMDC, GSAf and UNESCO; Next steps (EC, OAGS, EGS statements); Forthcoming events (CAG25, OAGS GM), EU-AU Business Forum preparation. Participation in the 5th EU Africa Business Forum Engaging the private sector in sustainable and inclusive growth, which was held in Brussels on the 2nd - 3rd of April Organization of a roundtable Raw materials and governance: Managing natural resources for inclusive development in Africa. The necessity of cooperation between African and European Geological Surveys has been included in the Fourth EU Africa Summit ministerial conclusions Road Map Participation of project coordinator in Workshop - Adressing Environmental and Health Impacts of Active and Abandoned Mines in Sub Saharan Africa organized in Prague May 2014 by Czech Geological Survey. EGS OAGS Information Session - Africa meets Europe: continental scale Geological Surveys cooperation going real - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 14th August, 2014 during 25 Colloquium of African Geology (CAG25). After presentation an open discussion took place on the involvement and role of non Geological Surveys stakeholders (Chairs: Gabi Schneider and Luca Demicheli). Over 70 participants took part in this meeting. Submission of the Final Report draft version to DG DEVCO November 2014 OTHER ACTIVITIES Several members of ICDTF and MREG took part in preparation of the project proposal titled Strategic international dialogues and cooperation on raw materials with technologically advanced countries H H2020-SC one-stage Minerals4Society. The application has been favorably evaluated by the Agency, however it has not been approved for funding. Most important related outcomes

29 page 29 I EGS 2015 Annual Report The important milestone in realization of the Feasibility Study - Geoscientific knowledge and skills in African Geological Surveys (Contract ) was the submission of the Final Report draft version to DG DEVCO November 2014 cooperation to Latin America (Organisation of Ibero-American Geological Surveys - ASGMI) LIST OF MEMBERS The other important result was the recognition of the fact that cooperation between African and European Geological Surveys had been included in the Fourth EU Africa Summit ministerial conclusions Road Map , held in Brussels on the 2nd - 3rd of April FUTURE PERSPECTIVES Organizing EGS-OAGS Workshop in Cape Town (South Africa) on 8 9 February Dissemination of results of the Feasibility Study. Starting the preparation of a road map and application for the long term PAN AFRICAN PROJECT (PanAfGeo) Organization of consortium for elaboration application SCS-13f-2015 Strategic International dialogues and cooperation with raw materials producing countries and industry Opening of dialogue and expanding the Country Survey Expert BELGIUM GSB Yves Vanbrabant Czech Republic CGS Bohdan Kribek Petr Rambousek Ivana Svojtkova Denmark GEUS John Tychsen Finland GTK Esko Korkiakoski FINLAND Mika Räisänen France BRGM Christian Braux FRANCE Patrice Christmann Germany BGR Kristine Asch GERMANY Birgit Kunhs GERMANY Dirk Küster Greece IGME Kostas Laskaridis Italy ISPRA Elisa Brustia Italy Luca Guerrieri Lithuania LGT Jonas Satkunas Malta MRA Michael Schembri Poland PGI Olga Rataj Izabela Poch Marek Graniczny PORTUGAL LNEG Luisa Duarte Ruben Dias Vitor Lisboa Rita Caldeira SPAIN IGME Enrique Diaz Martínez Manuel Reguerio Santiago Martin Alfageme Eusebio Lopera Caballero Slovakia SGUDS Ludovit Kucharic Slovenia Geo-ZS Marko Komac Sweden SGU Rune Johansson The Netherlands TNO Paul Bogaard UK BGS Martin Smith UK Richard Ellison UKRAINE Geoinform Boris Malyuk

30 page 30 I EGS 2015 Annual Report WATER RESOURCES Chair: Hans Peter Broers Geological Survey of the Netherlands TNO Deputy Chair: Klaus Hinsby Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland GEUS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Water Resources Expert Group focuses on groundwater management and protection of groundwater resources. Its main activities are the support and advice to DG-ENV, the identification of knowledge gaps for the EU research agenda and the sharing of experiences of member states in implementing EU Directives related to groundwater. The activities in 2014 focused on specific advice on the following topics: 1) the relation between the Drinking Water Directive and the Groundwater Directive 2) recommendations for the drinking water consultation of the European Commission 3) co-chairing the preparation of a new technical report regarding groundwater and associated aquatic ecosystems within the common implementation strategy (CIS) of the Water Framework Directive 4) development of a new Collaboration Agreement with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission,.and 5) Input to the preparation for the ERANET call. MISSION AND VISION The focus of the Expert Group on Water Resources is on groundwater management and protection in general, and more specifically related to the groundwater aspects of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Groundwater Directive (GWD 2006) and the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) of both directives. The main activities are: Support and advice to DG-ENV on technical and policy-related issues Identify knowledge gaps for the EU research agenda Sharing experiences between member organizations in WFD and GWD implementation. 1. Issues tackled by the WFD (2000) and GWD (2006)

31 page 31 I EGS 2015 Annual Report SCOPE AND FOCUS The scope of the expert group on water resources (EGWR) has been related to the groundwater aspects of the water framework directive (WFD, 2000) and on the negotiations of the groundwater directive (2006) and its subsequent implementation through the common implementation strategy (CIS). Since 2006, after the GWD was enacted, Eurogeosurveys has played an active role in the overall discussions within Working Group C and in the implementation process by leading and participating in drafting groups for Guidances. For example, Eurogeosurveys took an active rol in the review process of the GWD in 2013 (see annual report over 2013). Moreover, the Expert group took initiatives in order to influence the EU research agenda in order to close knowledge gaps that were identified e.g. in collaboration with the groundwater experts of the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) in a new EU Horizon 2020 project KINDRA initiated by the European Federation of Geologists (EFG). In 2014 the main issues were: 1) the relation between the Drinking Water Directive and the Groundwater Directive 2) recommendations for the drinking water consultation of the European Commission 3) co-chairing the preparation of a new technical report regarding groundwater and associated aquatic ecosystems within the common implementation strategy (CIS) of the Water Framework Directive 2 The GWD and WFD involve a new paradigm in protection of groundwater, with increased emphasis on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and on the mutual influence of groundwater on surface waters. 4) development of a new Collaboration Agreement with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, and 5) Input to the preparation for the ERANET call.

32 page 32 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Activity When? Who? Attending the EGS Chairs meeting and NDs Forum January 2014 Hans Peter Broers THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION The EGWR is very active in the EU Working Group C on Groundwater. Since 2006, when the GWD was enacted, Eurogeosurveys has played an active role in leading drafting groups, writing guidances for the imple men tation of the GWD, contributing and chairing and co-chairing drafting groups on - guidance on groundwater status and trend assessment no. 18 (chair/co-chair, 6 EGS members contributing, guidance endorsed 2009) - guidance on groundwater monitoring (4 EGS members, endorsed 2007) - guidance on groundwater aspects of protected areas (4 EGS members, endorsed 2008) - guidance on direct and indirect inputs to groundwater (2 EGS members, endorsed 2008). These four Guidances form the heart of the common implementation strategy of the Groundwater Directive. The work in the period focused on the preparation of the official review of the GWD in EGWR members Rob Ward (BGS) and Ariane Blum (BRGM) have co-chaired this activity which leaded to the EU Document Recommendations for the review of Annexes of the Groundwater Directive. These recommendations were thoroughly discussed at the EU Groundwater Conference of October 9th in Brussels, where two WREG members performed an invited Intervention, highlighting important aspects of GWD renewal (see separate documents). The WREG input to the discussion at the Conference and the subsequent two-day meeting of the EU Working Group C was much appreciated by the EU officials. In 2014 much attention was paid on the link between science and policy related to groundwater, by actively organizing session on actual societal themes such as shale gas extraction and groundwater on conferences as EGU. Moreover, the working group contributed to the Collaboration Agreement with JRC, contributed to EGDI-Scope and prepared groundwater contributions the Geoscience ERANET and GNEISS proposals. Moreover, as always, the WREG actively engaged in EU Working Group Groundwater. ACTIVITY REPORT ACTIVITIES 2014 Attending and preparing and evaluation of the joint meeting with JRC Input to the EGS Strategy on the topic of Water Resources, preparing slides and reports for the President and Secr.Gen. meeting DG-RTD on 19/03 Jan 27/28th 2014 Febr Input to the H2020 topics to be discussed with JRC March Attending the CIS EU Working Group Groundwater meeting in Athens and taking initiative and (co)-chairing a technical report on topic of GW Associated Aquatic Ecosystems Contribution to the EU Working Group on the Programme of Measures, subtopic National Water Retention Measures, presentation on the recommendations of the GW&CC workshops from 2013 Input of water resources knowledge gaps as input for the H2020 issue of Health delivered to DG-RTD and DG-ENV Organizing and chairing the Groundwater Resources and Shale Gas Extraction session at the European Geosciences Union Annual Conference (EGU 2014), starring A. Vengosh of Duke Un. USA Contribution to the EGDI-Scope meeting, delivering uses case for the groundwater topic Preparation of a common EGS vision on the Drinking Water Consultation, in cooperation with the Geochemistry Working Group Attending the CIS EU Working Group Groundwater meetings in Rome and the vis-à-vis meeting on the Drinking Water Directive Contributions and prepared documents for the build-up of the ERANET proposal and internal and external discussion on water issues within the ERANET April 8/9th 2014 March 25th 2014 April 2014 May 1st 2014 May 20th 2014 September 2014 Oct 1/2/ Jan-Dec 2014 Klaus Hinsby Klaus Hinsby, Hans Peter Broers, Rob Ward et al. Klaus Hinsby, Hans Peter Broers Klaus Hinsby Sophie Vermooten,, Hans Peter Broers Hans Peter Broers, Klaus Hinsby Hans Peter Broers, Rob Ward Klaus Hinsby Klaus Hinsby, Hans Peter Broers et al. Many members, WREG represented by Klaus Hinsby and Hans Peter Broers Hans Peter Broers, Klaus Hinsby et al.

33 page 33 I EGS 2015 Annual Report ACTIVITIES FORESEEN 2015 Activity When? Who? Video conference Expert Group Febr-March 2015 Expert Group Attending 2 EU Working Group C meetings RESULTS AND IMPACTS April and Oct 2015 Many members Organizing Expert Group Meeting vis-à-vis EU WGC Oct Expert Group Contribution to the EGS Chairs meeting and ND forum Brussels Contributing to the next phase of the ERANET proposal writing Contribution to the EGS/ JRC meeting in Brussels Febr Jan-April 2015 Febr. 2nd Hans Peter Broers, Klaus Hinsby Klaus Hinsby (lead), Hans Peter Broers and rest of WREG Klaus Hinsby Contribution to the EGS Water Book Jan-July 2015 Expert Group Organization of the EGU 2015 session on Shale Gas Extraction and Groundwater Resources at the EGU General Assembly 2014, Vienna April 2014 Hans Peter Broers, Rob Ward (convenors) There is a great appreciation by the EU for the support and advice of Eurogeosurveys, which is illustrated by the fact EG Water members chaired two of the three EU activities in the WFD Common Implementation Strategy in the field of Groundwater and are invited for a supporting role at the EU Groundwater Conference. The DG-Research officials also show much appreciation for the Eurogeosurveys input for future Horizon 2020 calls e.g. by mentioning at the meeting on the ERA-NET preparation (January 2015) that the commissions requests for contributions on groundwater to a large extent was inspired by several contributions on groundwater research gaps developed by WREG, and that WREG members in FPVII consortia always have been active in knowledge dissemination in the direction of member states through EU WGC. This role is to be continued through granted FPVII projects, such as MARS, which connects groundwater researchers and ecologists and the EU WGC and EU WGA (on ecosystems). FUTURE PERSPECTIVES Future groundwater resources management requires sound knowledge of groundwater systems and the Eurogeosurveys Water Resources Expert Group identified a number of issues that should be addressed in future research programs. The groundwater research needs that we identified are especially related to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Groundwater Directive (GWD) but also related to EU policy initiatives on Water Scarcity and Droughts and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. For example, the

34 page 34 I EGS 2015 Annual Report second and third River Basin Management Plans for the WFD and GWD are supposed to be fully climate-resilient by Moreover, different policy objectives may have contradictory effects; implementing the EU policy on renewable energy by introducing subsurface thermal energy storage, the storage of CO 2 for example or the increased exploration of unconventional fossil fuel reservoirs, might have adverse effects on the protection of groundwater systems, which asks for a balanced groundwater management approach that include properly integrated subsurface and surface spatial planning. The WREG group will assess future possibilities for using the groundwater competences in the group in especially Horizon2020 calls on research and innovation projects in as well as outside Europe (Especially Asia, Africa and South America) involving and including both public and private partners, capacity building and networks projects. In its preparation for the Horizon2020 program, the WREG highlighted five priority areas for further research in order to scientifically support the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Groundwater Directive: and EU policy initiatives on water scarcity and droughts and climate change adaptation and mitigation. These include: 1. Water for ecosystems: Developing tools for relating response of Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial and Associated Aquatic Ecosystems to the quantitative and chemical status of groundwater systems, and the estimation of environmental flow and threshold values for protection of ecosystems. 2. Water for cities: Developing tools to facilitate management strategies for multiple uses of groundwater in urban areas incl. predictive tools and monitoring systems for groundwater abstraction in coastal areas. 3. Climate change impacts on water for cities, ecosystems and agriculture: Develop methodologies to understand, evaluate and predict the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources and interlinked surface waters and ecosystems in order to eventually define climate-robust set of measures. 4. Protecting groundwater, human and ecosystem health against existing and emerging contaminants. To address the possible risk for human and environmental health from existing and emerging contaminants not commonly monitored in the environment. This include the development of new analytical methods, mapping of occurrence, identification and characterization of sources, pathways, transformations and target organisms/ effect; and the assessment of natural baselines and threshold values to protect human and ecosystem health. 5. Research on groundwater and water resources protection in relation to fracking and exploration of unconventional oil and gas in Europe may be foreseen to be an important research topic of the Horizon 2020 in addition to the above listed research topics and priorities; depending on future political decisions on the exploration of shale gas. The Water Resources Expert Group of EGS will be able to make significant contributions to such research in close collaboration with other public and private expert groups.

35 page 35 I EGS 2015 Annual Report LIST OF MEMBERS COUNTRY Surveys Expert ALBANIA AGS Arben Pambuku AUSTRIA GBA Gerhard Schubert CROATIA HGI_CGS Josip Terzic CYPRUS GSD Costas Constantinou CZECH REPUBLIC CZS Renata Kadlecova DENMARK GEUS Klaus Hinsby DENMARK GEUS Heidi Christiansen Barlebo DENMARK GEUS Lærke Thorling DENMARK GEUS Jens S. DENMARK GEUS Birgitte Hansen FINLAND GTK Jarkko Okkonen FINLAND GTK Olli Breilin FRANCE BRGM L.Gourcy@brgm.fr FRANCE BRGM Nathalie Dörfliger FRANCE BRGM Didier Pennequin GERMANY BGR Dr. Thomas Himmelsbach GREECE IGME Mr. Vassilis Zorapas GREECE IGME George Zacharioudakis HUNGARY MFGI Teodora Szocs IRELAND GSI Taly Hunter IRELAND GSI Caoimhe Hickey IRELAND GSI Monica Lee ITALY ISPRA Michele Fratini ITALY ISPRA Barbara Dessi ITALY ISPRA Daniele Spizzichino ITALY ISPRA Lucio Martarelli ITALY ISPRA Fabio Pascarella LITHUANIA LGT KESTUTIS KADUNAS MALTA MRA Michael Schembri NORWAY NGU Atle Dagestad NORWAY NGU Jan Høst POLAND PGI Lidia Razowska Jaworek (leader) POLAND PGI Maciej Klonowski POLAND PGI Anna Kuczynska ALBANIA GSA Sonila Marku PORTUGAL LNEG Ana Pereira SLOVAK REPUBLIC SGUDS Peter Malík SLOVAK REPUBLIC SGUDS Radovan Cernak SLOVENIA GEOZS Mitja Janza SPAIN IGME Juan de Dios Gómez Gómez SPAIN IGME Juan Antonio de la Orden Gomez SPAIN IGME Miguel Mejias Moreno SWEDEN SGU Jenny McCarthy SWITZERLAND FOEN Ronald Kozel THE NETHERLANDS TNO Paul Bogaard THE NETHERLANDS TNO Ronald Vernes THE NETHERLANDS TNO Erik Simmelink UK BGS Robert Ward

36 page 36 I EGS 2015 Annual Report MARINE GEOLOGY Chair: Henry Vallius Geological Survey of Finland GTK Deputy Chair: Alan Stevenson British Geological Survey BGS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Marine Geology Expert Group (MGEG) includes representatives from 24 EuroGeoSurveys member organisations. The group met twice during the year, in Lisbon, Portugal in January (2013 Annual Meeting) and Sliema, Malta in October (2014 Annual Meeting). Since 2009, the group has provided marine geoscience information to the European Commission s European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and is now in the second full year of the current phase (October October 2016). Several members of the group contributed to the NAG-TEC Atlas (Northeast Atlantic Geoscience Tectonostratigraphic Atlas) project; the Atlas was published during The developing NAG-Coast initiative will continue the collaboration between the members of the Northeast Atlantic Geoscience Group. MGEG members have contributed to several EC-funded projects and taken part in meetings with EC officials. The group plays a lead role in the trans-national Atlantic research alliance between the EU, the USA and Canada, and is involved in several Horizon 2020 projects and proposals. MISSION AND VISION The MGEG members deliver high-quality information and advice to inform decision-makers responsible for the European seas, and lead on issues of global importance. Emphasis is placed on cross-cutting issues such as sustainable use of natural resources, climate change, habitat mapping, natural hazards and long-term maintenance of databases. The group promotes marine geological information and interpretations as a fundamental requirement for all activities that take place in Europe s seas. Maintaining collaboration between the marine departments of the European Geological Survey organisations is central to achieving our vision. At national level, all EU Member States have introduced policies to improve better integration of marine science. The drivers are mainly EU Action Plans and Directives, therefore it is important that EU Member States develop strategies that are underpinned by cross-border collaboration. This is especially important in the marine environment, therefore it is necessary to ensure that a high-level of marine geology expertise and information is visible within EuroGeoSurveys, based on full support at national level and active collaboration with other scientific disciplines. SCOPE AND FOCUS The group has a long-term strategy that does not depend solely on EC funding, but which fits with the overarching EC marine strategy. The EMODnet programme places the marine departments of the geological surveys at the centre of providing geological advice and information to the EC. The group has also been active in initiatives such as the scoping phase of the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) and will be involved in the follow-up proposal Gneiss (Geoscience e-infrastructure for science and society). MGEG members are also active in the EuroGeoSurveys Northeast Atlantic Geosciences group (NAG). The group continues to look outwards to develop multi-disciplinary collaboration with the marine biological, oceanographic/hydrographic, physics, chemistry and archaeological communities, who form the main providers of scientific information for the European marine community. The MGEG also considers it essential that the group expands its geographical scope whenever possible, as the issues that affect the European seas are not constrained by national boundaries. The continued involvement of MGEG Group members in the EC s Atlantic Research Alliance will further these aims.

37 page 37 I EGS 2015 Annual Report ACTIVITY REPORT EMODNET-GEOLOGY Of the 36 organisations involved in EMODnet-Geology, 23 are EuroGeoSurveys members. The project started on 16 October 2013 and the project group has started to compile information for all European sea areas on sea-bed sediments, sea-floor geology, coastal behaviour, Quaternary geology, rates of coastal erosion or accumulation, geological events (submarine slides, earthquakes etc.) and minerals. The resulting information is being made available through the recently re-launched project portal ( which also makes information available to other systems, such as OneGeology-Europe, using Web Map Services (WMS). The Programme s Secretariat was launched in Ostend, Belgium on the 19th February 2014, an event attended by guests from the Flemish Government, the European Commission, the International Hydrographic Office, UNESCO s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the European Marine Board. In her speech, Lowri Evans, Director General of DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) said that the EMODnet Programme was a groundbreaking venture that was an essential step towards Blue Growth (see Section 5). EMODnet is now managed by a Steering Group consisting of the Project Co-ordinators and the Secretariat and has a central, overarching EMODnet portal (www. emodnet.eu/). The EMODnet-Geology group met twice during the year at the offices of the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) in Lisbon, Portugal on January and at a meeting hosted by the Continental Shelf Department of the Maltese Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in Sliema, Malta on September 30-October 1. The latter meeting was opened by the Maltese Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Joe Mizzi. NAG-COAST. The first draft of a white paper to establish NAG-Coast was written by TNO and BGS. NAG-Coast is an initiative of the Northeast Atlantic Geoscience (NAG) group of EuroGeoSurveys and intends to tackle the white ribbon that marks the transition between land and sea. Because of a paucity of data in this zone, linking the subsurface onshore to offshore has been difficult. OTHER EC-FUNDED PROJECTS Members of the MGEG have participated in a range of EC-funded projects. These include EMODnet-Bathymetry; EUROFLEETS; TOPCONS (tools for spatial planning and conservation in the Gulf of Finland); SAFI (aquaculture and fisheries); ASTARTE (tsunami risk); GLANAM (Glaciated North Atlantic Margins: Initial Training Network); ICE-ARC (Arctic environment stresses); SASMAP (development of marine tools for locating and assessing cultural heritage); INIS-HYDRO (hydrographic mapping in Ireland and the UK); CASE Arctic Holocene Climate Variability; ODIP (ocean data interoperability). In addition, geological survey organisations took part in a number of H2020 proposals either submitted or currently in development. EUROPEAN MARINE BOARD The work of the MGEG members, principally the joint outputs of the EMODnet-Geology Project, were included in a European Marine Board Position Paper on Submerged Landscapes and Sea level Change. The report was launched at the EurOcean Conference in Rome in October 2014 and a short Policy Brief was subsequently produced towards the end of The report and policy brief are available at marineboard.eu/. INDUSTRY/SURVEY PARTNERSHIPS NAG-TEC: Northeast Atlantic Geoscience Tectonostratigraphic Atlas. As part of the Northeast Atlantic Geoscience (NAG) initiative, several of the European geological

38 page 38 I EGS 2015 Annual Report surveys collaborated to produce a new tectonostratigraphic atlas of the North Atlantic region, which was published in The project was co-funded by industry and survey partners and co-ordinated by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) NATIONAL MARINE GEOLOGY PROGRAMMES/CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATION Each of the MGEG members continues to pursue a wide range of activities at national level. The group compiles a detailed report each year giving a comprehensive list of MGEG partners activities. Copies of the reports are available from the MGEG Secretary (agst@bgs.ac.uk). Several national programmes are ongoing from previous years (e.g. the RAUSKU Project (part of GTK s seafloor mapping programme in Finnish waters); RGF-Plateau Continental Project (France); Geos-scientific potential of the German North Sea (GPDN); YPOTHER (Marine geology and mineral exploration on the continental shelf and other areas of the Aegean Sea; Greece); INFOMAR (Ireland); CARG (Italian Geological Mapping Project); MAREANO (Norway); Hydrographic and Oceanographic Research Programme of the Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone; and MAREMAP (UK). Other mapping activities include: in the framework of the Belgian Transnational and Integrated Long-Term Marine Exploitation Strategies (TILES), OD Nature of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and the Geological Survey of the Netherlands are creating a transnational geological knowledge base, which will develop 4D resource models that can serve as decision support tools. The SEDGOF Project to assess ecosystem-based management of the marine environment in Estonian waters is being conducted by the Geological Survey of Estonia and other Estonian research organisations with support from the Geological Survey of Norway. IGME (Spain) are collaborating with Portuguese partners on submarine fluid venting on the continental margins of the Canary Islands and the Gulf of Cadiz (SUBVENT Project). GLOBAL PROGRAMMES. Several MGEG member organisations contribute to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) through membership of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD). The British Geological Survey manages the mission-specific platform (MSP) expeditions as part of the ECORD Science Operator. Scientists from the geological surveys of the Baltic countries were proponents and participants in IODP Expedition 347: Baltic Sea Paleoenvironment during the offshore phase in 2013 and also took part in the Onshore Science Party held in Bremen, Germany in January/February of MGEG members participate in a number of projects associated to IODP expeditions, for example the CISU (Climate Ice-sheet Interactions project) a collaboration between Finland (GTK, the Academy of Finland, Helsinki University) and Russia (VSEGEI). The Geological Survey of Sweden is, in addition to mapping activities along the Swedish coast, collaborating with GEUS (and the universities of Aarhus and Copenhagen) in investigating the geological history of the Kattegat during the last 130,000 years. Both of these projects are working with cores from the IODP Baltic Sea Paleoenvironment Expedition. IGME (Spain) is involved in studies related to the IODP Mediterranean Outflow Expedition analyzing the contourite record and implications for the oil industry. During the year, a Horizon 2020 project proposal was submitted to propose a drilling infrastructure for Europe, based on the expertise within ECORD and other European drilling programmes. Scientists from many of the MGEG partners regularly contribute to the GeoHab (Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping) Conferences and publications and several took part in the 2014 meeting in Lorne, Australia. BGR (Germany) contribute to a

39 page 39 I EGS 2015 Annual Report project approved by the International Seabed Authority to explore for massive sulfides in the Indian Ocean for the next 15 years. MGEG ANNUAL MEETING 2014 The annual MGEG meeting was held in Sliema, Malta on 2nd October 2014, hosted by Dr Albert Caruana, Director of the Continental Shelf Department of the Maltese Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The meeting took place following the EMODnet-Geology Project Meeting during the previous two days, which allowed representatives from 23 MGEG members to attend the meeting. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES At a European level, the main collaborative focus of the marine departments of the geological surveys will continue to be the EMODnet Programme. New calls to extend the programme beyond the current phase ( ), are expected to be issued within the next year. The EC have publicly stated that there will be a significant increase to available funding in the next phase of EMODnet, and also their expectation that the programme will continue after 2020 to underpin Blue Growth, the European Commission s long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. The seas and oceans are seen as drivers for the European economy and have great potential for innovation and growth. Blue Growth is the maritime contribution to achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The 'blue' economy represents roughly 5.4 million jobs and generates a gross added value of almost 500 billion a year. The EC consider that further growth is possible in a number of areas which are highlighted within the strategy; aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine biotechnology, ocean energy and seabed mining with marine knowledge, maritime spatial planning and integrated maritime surveillance as an essential component to providing knowledge, legal certainty and security in the blue economy. The MGEG members address the Blue Growth strategy in many of their activities and play central roles both nationally and internationally in the key areas with potential for growth. For example, relevant science will develop from the NAG-Coast initiative. The Atlantic Research Alliance between Europe, Canada, the USA and other circum-atlantic countries is in its early stages, but projects are now being awarded with elements of seabed mapping in many of the workplans; the Deputy Chair of the MGEG has been appointed by Sieglende Gruber, Head of the Marine Resources Unit at the EC s DG for Research and Innovation, to Chair a Working Group to advance an Atlantic Seabed Mapping Action Plan. Areas that are gaining increasing interest related to the EC s strategy include mineral research and exploration and assessments of the sea-floor to support marine renewable industry infrastructures. The MGEG is communicating with the EuroGeoSurveys Minerals Research Expert Group on the topic of marine minerals. The MGEG responded to a stakeholder consultation on seabed mining and the MGEG Chair attended a Deep Sea Mining Workshop in Brussels in April 2014 and is a member of the Advisory Board on the Blue Mining Project. Several MGEG members have been involved in studies of submarine mineral deposits (e.g. BGR, Germany and IGME, Spain). A number of national projects are addressing the needs of the renewable energy sector. Several Geological Surveys or their parent bodies will continue to participate in the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), the world s largest geoscience programme. Through membership of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), many EuroGeoSurveys members provide geoscientists to all aspects of IODP scientific objectives. The outlook for the MGEG members is to continue to address issues such as the security of energy supplies (hydrocarbons and renewable energy), raw materials (mineral and aggregate resources) and the

40 page 40 I EGS 2015 Annual Report COUNTRY Surveys Expert FINLAND GTK Henry Vallius GREECE IGME Aspasia Zalachori ICELAND ISOR Ögmundur Erlendsson protection of the amenity value of the marine environment for food (e.g. habitat mapping for fisheries and aquaculture), health (pollution), cultural value (archaeology) and recreation (coastal landscapes/boating). By addressing mapping and research projects related to coastal, shelf and deep-water geological and habitat models; Quaternary science; submarine hazards; sediment mobility and 4D monitoring/modelling; carbon capture and storage; gas hydrates; mineral resources; marine pollution; and heritage and archaeology, as well as developing technologies to improve data acquisition and using the latest delivery mechanisms for making marine geoscience information more accessible, the MGEG members will provide outputs that are relevant to Europe for the foreseeable future. LIST OF MEMBERS UK BGS Alan Stevenson ALBANIA AGS Arben Pambuku BELGIUM RBINS Vera Van Lancker CROATIA HGI_CGS Slobodan Miko CROATIA HGI_CGS Nikolina Ilijanić CYPRUS CGS Zomenia Zomeni CYPRUS CGS Eleni Georgiou Morisseau DENMARK GEUS Jørn Bo Jensen DENMARK GEUS Jørgen Leth ESTONIA GSE Sten Suuroja FINLAND GTK Aarno Kotilainen FINLAND GTK Anu Kaskela FINLAND GTK Ulla Allanen FRANCE BRGM Fabien Paquet GERMANY BGR Lutz Reinhardt GERMANY BGR Annemiek Vink GERMANY BGR Christian Reichert GERMANY BGR Christoph Gaedicke GERMANY BGR Kristine Asch GREECE IGME Irene Zananiri GREECE IGME Panagiotis I Tsombos ICELAND ISOR Árni Hjartarson ICELAND ISOR Skuli Vikingsson IRELAND GSI Koen Verbruggen IRELAND GSI Archie Donovan IRELAND GSI Janine Guinan IRELAND GSI Maria Judge IRELAND GSI Charise McKeon ITALY ISPRA Andrea Fiorentino ITALY ISPRA Silvana D Angelo ITALY ISPRA Loredana Battaglini LITHUANIA LGT Aldona Damusyte LITHUANIA LGT Jolanta Čyžienė LITHUANIA LGT Vytautas Minkevicius MALTA MALTA MALTA Ministry for Transport & Infrastructure Continental Shelf Department, Ministry for Transport & Infrastructure Continental Shelf Department, Ministry for Transport & Infrastructure Julie Auerbach Charles Galea Albert Caruana

41 page 41 I EGS 2015 Annual Report THE NETHERLANDS THE NETHERLANDS THE NETHERLANDS TNO TNO TNO Denise Maljers Sytze van Heteren Tamara van de Ven NORWAY NGU Reidulv Bøe NORWAY NGU Jan Höst NORWAY NGU Odd Harald Selboskar NORWAY NGU Terje Thorsnes POLAND PGI- NRC POLAND PGI- NRC POLAND PGI- NRC POLAND PGI- NRC PORTUGAL IPMA Fatima Abrantes PORTUGAL IPMA Nuno Lourenco PORTUGAL IPMA Pedro Terrinha ROMANIA GIR Constantin Costea ROMANIA GIR Diana Persa ROMANIA GIR Stefan Marincea ROMANIA GIR Delia Dumitras RUSSIAN FEDERATION RUSSIAN FEDERATION RUSSIAN FEDERATION VSEGEI VSEGEI VSEGEI Daria Ryabchuk Vladimir Zhamoida Victor Snezhko SLOVENIA GeoZs Bogomir Celarc SLOVENIA GeoZs Špela Kumelj SPAIN IGME Teresa Medialdea Cela SPAIN IGME Luis Somoza SPAIN IGME Adolfo Maestro SPAIN IGME Julia Gimenez Moreno SPAIN IGME Ricardo Leon SWEDEN SGU Lovisa Zillén Snowball SWEDEN SGU Johan Nyberg SWEDEN SGU Ola Halberg UKRAINE Prychornomor Sergii Osharin UK BGS Robert Gatliff UK BGS Rhys Cooper NON-EGS ORGANISATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MGEG. Institute of Oceanology, Bulgaria. Lyubomir Dimitrov Hydrographic Institute of Croatia. Ranko Crmaric and Nenad Leder Jardfeingi, Faroe Islands. Lis Mortensen and Bartal Højgaard Ifremer, France. Laure Simplet Bundesamt fuer Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH), Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Germany. Manfred Zeiler Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC). Antra Eihenberga, Daiga Pipira, Agnese Jansone and Ieva Bukovska Geological Survey of Montenegro. Slobodan Radusinovic. GeoEcoMar, Romania. Gabriel Ion. Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey. Günay Çifçi, Mustafa Ergun and Erdeniz Ozel. Prichernomorske State Regional Geological Enterprise, Sergey Osharin and Valerii Rokitskyi

42 page 42 I EGS 2015 Annual Report SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS Chair: Rainer Baritz Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources BGR, Germany Deputy Chair: Florence Quesnel Bureau de Reserches Géologiques et Minières BRGM, France EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report refers to the activities of the task force in 2014: Meetings in January and June Support to EGS JRC cooperation Status quo assessment of superficial deposits mapping in Europe MISSION AND VISION MISSION (ACC. TO TOR 2011) to explore, compile and integrate existing experiences and datasets on the distribution, properties and weathering behavior of exposed rocks and superficial deposits. to semantically and spatially harmonize existing parent material information as far as possible, and integrate it towards a European-wide new geological data layer: a soil parent material map for Europe. to design and develop a database which comprises the major mechanical and hydraulical characteristics of the weathered geological materials, for example in the field of landscape evolution modeling. VISION (ACC. TO TOR 2011) to act as a connecting link between soil and geology. to make geology knowledge and data available to the soil domain to attempt to filling an important data gap for the below-ground modeling of the unsaturated zone SCOPE AND FOCUS The political scope of EGS soil activities has changed over the recent years. The EC has withdrawn its draft soil framework directive (May 2014); however, the soil thematic strategy has been maintained. The strategy intends to use existing and new policies to protect soils from certain threats such as erosion, salinization and landslides. Any data about the status and trend condition of soils requires soil physical and chemical data which are strongly dependent on the parent material. In fact, for developing new soil maps for Europe, for harmonizing maps, parent material data from the geological services is needed. In many data sets of EGS members, SD-related data exist, such as Quaternary data in Lowlands but also alluvial and coastal sediments all over Europe. However, the degree of data coverage up to the top of the land surface, including weathering depth and properties of the unconsolidated rock in mountainous areas, widely varies; large data gaps exist. Efficient use of resources, spatial planning, soil engineering including belowground energy transport facilities, surface-close geothermy, filter for infiltrating surface waters, are examples for applications which require new and high-resolution soil and parent material data sets. The idea for building new soil data bases recently emerged again in the context of the European Regional Soil Partnership. EGS was one of the 8 founding organizations for this new activity, which belongs to the framework of the Global Soil Partnership. It is one of the main challenges for the task force to review the content and coverage of existing data bases, and to develop a concept for integrating such data with a clear focus to satisfy these new data requirements.

43 page 43 I EGS 2015 Annual Report In 2012, the UN Food and Agriculture Office (FAO) has launched together with its members states the Global Soil Partnership (GSP). In 2013, EGS became a member of the GSP. One of the EGS key activities in support of the GSP until now has come from the EGS Geochemistry EG. The TF SD had supported the GEMAS evaluations by providing a draft parent material map extracted from the European soil data base. This exercise has clearly shown that a revised, higher-resolution data set is urgently needed for Europe as a whole. The TF SD intends to collect, harmonize and integrate existing high resolution SD-related Geology-data sets; for that, existing data sets may require some adaptation due to different nomenclatures, resolution and aim of historic mapping (legacy geology data sets). THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION Politically, the task force intends to support assessments of priority areas for soil protection with regard to erosion, salinization, landslides. This task is likely to be accomplished by the member states according to agreed methodologies and on the basis of homogenous data sets. Parent material is also important in connection with other applications such as filter for contaminants and storage for nutrients, as well as buffer capacity against acidification (from weathering). There is evidence that the EU s soil policy shifts towards land use and rural development. The following list presents the main ongoing activities of the COM with regard to research and policy related to the scope of the Task Force: Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change Joint Programming Initiative (FACCE JPI): Coordination action in support of the JPI European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) EEA: Open call for proposals Environment Topic Centre on Urban, Land Use and Soil (Deadline 31 March 2014) DG ENV plan for tender: Land as a resource (planned 2014; indicative title) DG JRC: preparations of a tender (or series of tenders) for soil mapping The two most important stakeholders for the task force in Europe are the European Commission s Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the European Environment Agency (EEA): JRC has initiated a new process towards developing 1: soil maps. One of the key methodologies in discussion is the SOTER method (soil and terrain data base). SOTER requires higher resolution soil parent material data sets to be combined with information about land form. Existing soil legacy data then would help to build the soil component as a conceptual soil map. The task force is the most important network for the harmonization and processing of a new parent material layer for soil mapping. Besides, JRC is currently revising its European Soil atlas. In the frame of the JRC-EGS cooperation agreement, the task force has been asked to add a chapter on parent material as one of the most important soil forming factors. EEA has strongly interacted with the TF SD in the frame of EGDI-Scope. Cooperation was established via use case Geology and Soils in Ecosystem Mapping and Assessment. It refers to spatial data sets for ecosystem mapping and assessment in Europe, and includes the evaluation of the state of soils (soil as an important ecosystem compartment).

44 page 44 I EGS 2015 Annual Report ACTIVITY REPORT ACTIVITIES 2014 When? Who? 2nd Meeting June 2014 All Organizer: Satkunas, Gregorauskiene (LGT) Attending the EGS Chairs meeting and NDs Forum Febr Baritz (BGR) European Soil Partnership May 2014 Baritz (BGR) Global Soil Partnership July 2014 Baritz (BGR) 3rd Meeting Organizer: Sheehy (GSI) German-CZ cooperation on validation of soil prediction mapping (includes the application of the revised parent material classification, SOTER mapping and DSM using geology maps) January 2015 Start Nov All Baritz (BGR) Janderkova (CGS) IQUAME management meeting (1:2.5 Million International Quaternary Map of Europe) Nov Schokker (TNO) Malmberg Persson (SGU)

45 page 45 I EGS 2015 Annual Report PLANNING AND ACTIVITIES 2015 (1) Next meeting ca. August/ September 2015 (Orleans, France) Harmonization issues Support to the ERA Net (2) Publication Continuation of the review publication (3) JRC cooperation Chapter Soil Parent Material for the revised European Soil Atlas Support to soil mapping (still to be discussed) (4) Cooperation with EEA Topic centre on Spatial Information Analysis (SIA): Development of a Land form map of Europe (delayed from 2014 to 2015) All members All All BGR RESULTS AND IMPACTS From the first two meetings, country reports were completed which present the current status of national geology data relevant for SD mapping. 3 different sets of national data serve as an orientation for discussing and refining the challenges for building a European parent material map: experiences with regolith mapping in France (allochthonous e.g. Pleistocene and Holocene deposits) and autochthonous regolith e.g. weathering profiles), the UK soil parent material map, and experiences on The Netherlands with the upscaling of borehole data as new 2.5 to 3 D national subsoil data sets. As a possible fourth category, the substrate types in Germany and Austria can be considered as a combined soil-geology approach. All national performances are discussed in the light of experiences coming from these experiences: the quaternary data sets as well as alluvial data sets in other countries. Spain, Ireland, Slovakia, Norway, Finland and Austria have complete national coverage of such data in the scale and related. The following table provides an overview of the status of national products relevant for SD mapping. Austria (Pavlik) Belgium (Bogemans) Croatia (Wacha) CY (Zissimos) CZ (Janderkova) Denmark (Jakobsen) Finland (Palmu) France (Quesnel, Prognon) Map of substrate types 1:200k for Alpine areas (2/3 of AT); lithological overview tables for the interpretation of geological maps; 1.25 k for Tirol (forest types x substrate type) Traditional lithological mapping 1:50 k in the northern part of Belgium 1:25k in the south without information concerning the superficial deposits; quaternary profile types mapping 1:50k (both lateral and vertical distribution of the whole Quaternary sequence) only in the northern part of Belgium. A Quaternary overview map 1:200k is available (profile type map). Geological maps: 1:300k; 1:100k geochronological map, 69/74 sheets published, not all digitally processed, several sheets missing (but are in preparation in digital form); 1:50k lithostratigraphical map, 4 published sheets, several in finalisation; mapping standardised nationally according to Mapping Guidelines (HGI-CGS, 2012) Geochemical atlas of Cyprus; soil samples (1 x 1 km grid with a top soil (0 25cm) and sub soil (50 75cm) sample); with multi element geochemical analyses; geology 1:250k (100 % coverage digital); GIS-based landslide inventory (south-west-cy) Geological maps 1:50k (GeoCR50) 100% coverage; PM inportant to look at soil maps as well; use case: PM in landslide suceptability mapping Lithological map 1:200k full coverage (digital); 1:25 k for most of DK (digital); geomorphology important (50% of DK digital in 1:200k); many applications 1:200k: grain-size based classification (available) vs. deposits polygons (in progress); 1:20k 1:50k (ca. 30 % of FI); map used to produce new national soil map 1:250k All of F with digital 1:50k geology; regolith definition for mapping 1:50k; analysis for regolith presence in geological maps; derivation of Regolith Map of F; good examples for user needs The following table provides an overview of the national data relevant for SD mapping: Austria (Pavlik) Germany (Baritz, Günther, Asch) Full coverage 1:200k geology; extensive coverage of 1:25k 1:50k (but not always digital); Quaternary covered in lowlands; exlculded in mountainous areas except fluvial deposits; maps of the federal states not harmonized throughout Germany

46 page 46 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Ireland (Sheehy) Full Quaternary coverage 1:50k by end of 2013 Italy (Blumetti, Guerrieri) Lithuania (Satkunas, Gregorauskiene) Netherlands (Schokker) Norway (Lysa) Poland (Jozwik, Gliwicz, Galazka) Portugal (Dias) Lithological map 1:100k available for 100 % of IT; thickness and texture of Quaternary deposits and weathering covers not represented; 652 maps sheets 1:50k, of that ca. 40% covered (incl. SF properties); in some areas (Alps): thickness and characteristics of eluvial and loess covers; applications: soil loss by water erosion Full coverage of surface geology Quaternary; high density of boreholes through Quaternary. Quaternary geological map 1:200k for all of Lithuania; Quaternary geological map 1:50 k for 60 % of the country. Thickness, lithology, genesis and stratigraphy of Quaternary deposits are represented. Stopped conventional 1:50k geological mapping in 1997 (ca. 40% of NL covered); now 3D voxel modeling as interpolation of litho-classes within litho-stratigraphical units (shallow subsurface: upper 30 m); > 1/3 of NL covered Quaternary 1:50 k (23 % of the country covered); 1:250 k (ca. 80 % of the country covered); 1: 1 mill; legend: genetic interpretation, geomorphology and Quaternary deposits (extending ca. 0.5 m below surface); cartogr. symbols: sediment thickness, grain size, glacial and non-glacial morphology; emphasizes QS: scale differences from different physio-geographic settings 1) Detailed geological map (DGMP) 1:50k (1069 sheets, % coverage digital); contains geological units incl. linear structures of the surface geology, stratigraphic codes, genesis, lithology and sediment symbols 2) Lithogenetic map (LMP) 1:50k (ca. 70 % coverage): generalized DGMP + DEM 3) National geological map 1:200k (incl. with surface geological units) National geological mapping program: 1:50k (74% of the country covered, 130 maps published out of 175); 1:200k (50% of the country covered, 4 maps published out of 8): litho-stratigraphic units; various high-resolution maps with different coverage/maps not harmonized nationally Slovakia (Maglay/Sefcik/ Wunder) Slovenia (Novak, Bavec) Spain (Salazar, Serrano) 1. Quaternary deposits, J. Maglay a J. Pristaš, 2002, M 1 : ; 2. General geological Quaternary map of Slovak republic, J. Maglay et al., 2011, M 1 : ; 3. Quaternary geological map of Slovakia Quaternary genetical (deposits) types, J. Maglay et al., M 1 : ; 4. Quaternary geological map of Slovakia Quaternary cover thickness, J. Maglay et al., 2009, M 1 : ; 5. Neotectonic map of Slovakia, J. Maglay et al., 1999, M 1 : Geology data set (full coverage, digital): Geological maps 1:100k (OGK 24 sheets, not completely harmonised), 1:250k, 1:450k, and 1:1M, lithological map 1:1.2M; Soil data sets (full coverage, digital): Soil maps 1:25k and 1:400k; Landslide and Debris-flow Susceptibility Maps 1:250k, both in digital form. 1. Main scale is 1:50k (1,108 sheets; contains always bedrock + SD/ Quaternary; most of Spain covered with digital maps; combined with geomorphological maps for ca. 30 % of ES of that ca. 5 % digital), harmonized versión 70% 2. Lithological 1:200k available all of ES; 3) Quaternary 1:1Mio (out-of-date) 2) Lithological 1:200k available all of ES; 3) Quaternary 1:1Mio (out-of-date) Sweden (Persson) Switzerland (Hayoz) UK (Lawley) Mapping of Quaternary deposits, classified according to: grain-size composition, genesis, (age) (no till stratigraphy); it extends to ca 0.5 m below ground surface (below soil ), and includes morphological elements; different scales (1:2oo k in the North, 1:50 k in the South); ca. 80 % of the country covered; 1:1Mio for all of SE Geological Map of Switzerland 1:500,000 scale (100%) (original scale; 1:300,000; contains superficial geological formations) Merged geology data with SF mapping and soil data bases; country wide 1:50k, much experience with applications

47 page 47 I EGS 2015 Annual Report The following map presents an overview (not finalized). Full version will be presented during the EGS National Delegates Meeting 3rd February. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES It was found that the coverage of digital legacy data is really high, however, the content varies even though the basic properties such as genesis, lithology and stratigraphy are very often shared among the different data bases. In some cases, especially in Quaternary landscapes, geomorphological data are developed as an aid to geology mapping. The BGR land form map (100 m) as well as the European soil regions map (1:5 Mio), but also the IQUAME (1:2,5 Mio, currently in development), may become important framework data sets to further develop and harmonize higher resolution parent material data. In the beginning of February, the first meeting about the development of soil maps 1:250,000 will be held at the JRC, Ispra. The activities of this task force are expected to become highly relevant. The harmonization of such heterogeneous high-resolution data sets for a whole continent has never been attempted before. The development of a soil parent material map is not just a task of combining and translating legends which contain the same parameters, however, differently interpreted and coded. Uncertainty exists with the full coverage of data for the complete unsaturated zone. This includes the full depth of unconsolidated sediment down to the uppermost groundwater aquifer. This includes weathered residuum as much as laterally translocated substrate. To develop a spatially explicit property data base for the unsaturated zone is a scientific challenge because it requires the extension of existing data bases. This required regionally validated methods and models. An important cooperation is foreseen with the Geochemistry EG. The activities of this EG not only require data produced here, but also the other way round, the Geochemistry EG is important for developing petrografic property data which extend the SD/parent material data base. Shared applications such as hazard maps, nutrient and pollutant dynamics relevant for ground water assessments are likely to follow. The TF SD has decided to devote a specific additional part if its activity towards the analysis of needs and requirements by users, but also options for various applications in order to specify the data base structure and content. While technically, the working group is compiling meta information, the main focus will be on concept development. The implementation and development of new data bases will be a challenging task requiring a proper working environment and infrastructure. Respective proposals will be developed.

48 page 48 I EGS 2015 Annual Report MEMBER LIST (JAN. 2015) COUNTRY Surveys Expert AUSTRIA GBA Wolfgang Pavlik BELGIUM GSB Frieda Bogemans CROATIA Lara Wacha CYPRUS Andreas Zissimos CZ. REPUBLIC CGS Jana Janderkova DENMARK GEUS Peter Roll Jakobsen FINLAND GTK Jukka-Pekka Palmu FRANCE BRGM Florence Quesnel FRANCE BRGM Caroline Prognon GERMANY BGR Rainer Baritz GERMANY BGR Kristine Asch GERMANY BGR Andreas Günther GREECE IGME Kostas Laskaridis IRELAND GSI Michael Sheehy ITALY ISPRA Anna Maria Blumetti ITALY ISPRA Luca Guerrieri LITHUANIA LGT Jonas Satkuna LITHUANIA LGT Virgilija Gregorauskiene NETHERLANDS TNO Jeroen Schokker NORWAY NGU Astrid Lysa POLAND PGI Tomasz Gliwicz POLAND PGI Katarzyna Jóźwik POLAND PGI Dariusz Galazka PORTUGAL LNEG Ruben Dias ROMANIA GIR Adriana Ion ROMANIA GIR Mircea Ticleanu SLOVAKIA SGUDS Juraj Maglay SLOVAKIA SGUDS Henrieta Gackova SLOVAKIA SGUDS Peter Sefcik SLOVAKIA SGUDS Dusan Wunder SLOVENIA GEOZS Miloš Bavec SLOVENIA GEOZS Matevz Novak SPAIN IGME Angel Salazar Rincón SPAIN IGME Angel Martín Serrano SWEDEN SGU Kärstin Malmberg Persson SWEDEN SGU Lars Rodhe SWITZERLAND SWISSTOPO Peter Hayoz UK BGS Russell Lawley

49 page 49 I EGS 2015 Annual Report GEOCHEMISTRY EXPERT GROUP EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group and the GEMAS Project Team, which includes members from outside organisations (e.g., Alterra, The Netherlands; Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute; Research Group Swiss Soil Monitoring Network, Swiss Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz- Tänikon, several Ministries of the Environment and University Departments of Geosciences, Chemistry and Mathematics in a number of European countries and New Zealand; ARCHE Consulting in Belgium; CSIRO Land and Water in Adelaide, Australia) were very active during 2014, firstly, in the publication of the two volumes GEMAS atlas with the title Chemistry of Europe s Agricultural Soils, which was published in April 2014, and secondly with the publication of papers and presentations in conferences using results from the FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe, European Groundwater Geochemistry (EGG), Geochemistry of Agricultural and Grazing land soil (GEMAS), and Urban Geochemistry (URGE) projects. Results from all four projects are relevant for various European Commission Directives and EU international commitments. MISSION AND VISION Sound scientific data must be in the forefront for planning and political decision-making. The mission of the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group is, thus, to provide high quality geochemical data of near-surface materials, to develop harmonised databases for multi-purpose use, to offer independent expert advice to the European Commission, and to supply sound background data to scientists for their research, and to the public, in general, for education and other purposes (e.g., land use planning, agriculture). To achieve this mission, systematic geochemical data for the whole Europe are generated by harmonised methods of sampling of near-surface materials (soil, stream or floodplain sediment, water), sample preparation, chemical analysis, quality control, data processing, and presentation. The systematic geochemical information is published in the form of geochemical atlases (both as books and on-line publications), which are freely available, and can be used in (a) state of the environment reports (including monitoring), (b) mineral exploration, (c) agriculture, (d) forestry, (e) animal husbandry, (f) geomedicine or medical geology, (g) forensic medicine, (h) determination of natural background values for environmental risk assessment, etc. The vision, therefore, is to produce high quality multi-element geochemical atlases data sets for multi-purpose use for all types of near-surface Earth materials. SCOPE AND FOCUS The focus of the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group is the execution of pan-european applied geochemical projects using harmonised procedures of sampling, sample preparation and laboratory analysis. The scope is to bring under the same umbrella applied geochemists with various specialties (e.g., environmental, exploration, ground water geochemistry) from all EGS member institutions, and to act as a forum for the exchange of expertise and to work together in order to deliver good quality professional products and services to European Union countries. Innovation can include, but is not limited to, the following: To incorporate new innovative technologies in applied geochemical investigations, e.g., stable isotopes, Mid-InfraRed spectroscopy (MIR), Mobile Metal Ion analysis (MMI ), etc. in order to improve and expand data interpretation and, thus, improve the service to end-users. To introduce new outreach services for the benefit of end-users.

50 page 50 I EGS 2015 Annual Report To test new ideas in order to improve products and services. To develop routines that encourage effective organisational innovation. To find new ways of making geochemical data sets more useful to end-users. To discover unmet end-user needs. To provide European-wide harmonised geochemical data required by EC Directives. ACTIVITY REPORT GEOCHEMISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL AND GRAZING LAND SOIL (GEMAS) The GEMAS project is a cooperative project between the Geochemistry Expert Group of EuroGeoSurveys and Eurometaux ( gemas.geolba.ac.at/). During 2008 and until early 2009, a total of 2108 samples of agricultural and 2023 samples of grazing land soil were collected at a density of 1 site/2500 km2 each from 33 European countries, covering an area of 5,600,000 km2. All samples were analysed for 52 chemical elements following strict external quality control procedures. The GEMAS project provides for the first time fully harmonised data for element concentrations in agricultural and grazing land soil and properties known to influence the bioavailability and toxicity of elements at the continental (European) scale. The provided database is fully in compliance with the requirements of the European REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals; EC 1907/2006). GEMAS data can be efficiently used for various European pieces of legislation related to metals in soil, e.g., Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC), Sewage Sludge Directive (86/27/ EEC), Mine Waste Directive (2006/21/EC), Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC), INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC) and the pending Soil Protection Directive. A two-volume geochemical atlas with an accompanying DVD was published in April 2014 (Fig. 1): Reimann, C., Birke, M., Demetriades, A., Filzmoser, P. & O'Connor, P. (Editors), Chemistry of Europe's agricultural soils Part A: Methodology and interpretation of the GEMAS data set. Geologisches Jahrbuch (Reihe B 102), Schweizerbarth, Hannover, 528 pp. ( schweizerbart.de/publications/detail/ isbn/ ), and Reimann, C., Birke, M., Demetriades, A., Filzmoser, P. & O'Connor, P. (Editors), Chemistry of Europe's agricultural soils Part B: General background information and further analysis of the GEMAS data set. Geologisches Jahrbuch (Reihe B 103), Schweizerbarth, Hannover, 352 pp. ( isbn/ /geologisches_ Jahrbuch_Reihe_B_Heft_B103_Chemistry). Book sales since publication in April 2014: 468 copies of Part A, 465 copies of Part B, and 170 copies sent to library institutions; overall total 635 sets. A GEMAS workshop was organised at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2014 in Vienna (Austria) on the 28 April 2014 ( and comprised ten oral and sixteen poster presentations. The GEMAS project was also presented at various national and international meetings, conferences and workshops. An innovative way of dissemination and promotion of the GEMAS project results are the two periodic tables: GEMAS Periodic Table of Elements ( gemas.geolba.ac.at/download/gemas_ Periodic_Table_of_Elements_High_ resolution.pdf), and GEMAS Periodic Table of Mineralisation & Mineral deposits ( at/download/gemas_mineralisation_ Periodic_Table_Poster_high.pdf). Figure 1. Front covers of the two volumes of the GEMAS atlas Chemistry of Europe s Agricultural Soils.

51 page 51 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Recently, a fervent review was published in Environmental Earth Sciences (vol. 72(8), p ; article/ /s z#). URBAN GEOCHEMISTRY PROJECT (URGE) The urban geochemistry book edited by Johnson, C.C., Demetriades, A., Locutura, J. & Ottesen, R.T. (Editors), Mapping the Chemical Environment of Urban Areas. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK, 618 pp. ( eu.wiley.com/wileycda/wileytitle/ productcd html) has essentially given the incentive and impetus for the EuroGeoSurveys URGE project. The book focuses on the increasingly important issues of urban geochemical mapping with key coverage of the distribution and behaviour of chemicals and compounds in the urban environment. The first part of the book covers general aspects of urban geochemical mapping with an overview of current practice and reviews of different aspects of the component methodologies. The second part includes case studies from different urban areas around Europe, USA, Africa and Far East. Book sales since publication in April 2011: 540 copies. The URGE project s objective is to compare the urban geochemistry of several European cities using the same sampling, sample preparation and chemical analysis protocol. It deals with the chemical environment of urban areas, where most of us live and work. Geological Surveys are the only institutions that can map systematically urban areas to distinguish between the natural and urban (anthropogenically modified) geochemical background, and produce in a harmonised manner comparable data sets across Europe. Phase I of the URGE project was completed at the end of 2014, and each country is responsible for publishing the results independently. Since, this is an important project for the European Community, a well-coordinated URGE Phase II should start in 2016, following a one-year preparation, provided, of course, if the necessary funding can be found. This project can be used for constraining good policies, for example, within Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC), Sewage Sludge Directive (86/27/EEC and INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC). EUROPEAN GROUNDWATER GEOCHEMISTRY PROJECT (EGG) In Europe, ca mineral water brands are officially registered and bottled for drinking. Bottled water is collected from ground water reservoirs, and it is rapidly becoming the main supply of drinking water for the general population in many European countries. A geochemical atlas presenting the results of the EuroGeoSurveys EGG project was published in August 2010: Reimann, C. and Birke, M. (Editors), Geochemistry of European Bottled Water. Borntraeger Science Publishers, Stuttgart, 268 pp. Book sales since publication in August 2010: 876 copies ( de/publications/detail/artno/ #). This book is the first state of the art overview of the chemistry of ground water from 40 European countries from Portugal to Russia, measured on 1785 bottled water samples, equivalent to 1189 distinct bottled water brands from 1247 wells at 884 locations plus an additional 500 tap water samples acquired in 2008 by the network of EuroGeoSurveys experts all across Europe. In contrast to previously available compilations, all chemical data (contained on the enclosed CD) were measured in a single hydrochemical laboratory, under strict quality control with high internal and external reproducibility, affording a high quality, internally consistent data set. More than 70 parameters were determined on every sample using state of the art analytical techniques with ultra low detection limits. Because of the wide geographical distribution of the water sources across 40 European countries, the bottled mineral, drinking and tap waters characterised herein may be used for obtaining a first estimate of groundwater geochemistry at the scale of the European Continent. The data published here allow for

52 page 52 I EGS 2015 Annual Report the first time to present a comprehensive overview of the natural distribution and variation of the determined chemical elements and additional status parameters of groundwater at the European scale. This database provides valuable information for different pieces of European legislation, e.g., Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC), Sewage Sludge Directive (86/27/EEC), Mine Waste Directive (2006/21/ EC), Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC), and INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC. CONTINUED WORK WITH THE FOREGS DATA The FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe project is the first pan-european work that provides harmonised data sets for stream water, stream sediment, floodplain sediment and soil ( foregsatlas/). Many European Union institutions, national and local authorities, and Universities still use the produced data, because they provide geochemical background in many surficial materials. The new analytical data on boron, chlorine and fluorine, received from China, were processed and a Chapter was written, and included in Part B of the GEMAS atlas two-volume set (2014). The FOREGS atlas can be used to support European legislation related to metals in soil, e.g., Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (96/61/EC), Sewage Sludge Directive (86/27/ EEC), Mine Waste Directive (2006/21/EC), Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC), INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC) and the pending Soil Protection Directive. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES Among the future perspectives, the following harmonised data sets have been identified as 'missing' in the eyes of the Geochemistry Expert Group: Modern isotope systems on GEMAS data. Harmonised and coherent lithogeochemistry of Europe Spring water and tap water geochemistry Forest soil geochemistry Geochemistry of the European shelf Geochemistry of the Atlantic Basin Biogeochemistry Coal and oil geochemical data European mineral deposits geochemistry database GEMAS Follow-up projects GEMAS-remote sensing project URGE-urban geochemistry phase II A one page project description is available for most of the proposed project ideas.

53 page 53 I EGS 2015 Annual Report LIST OF MEMBERS COUNTRY Surveys Expert Albania AGS Agim Mazreku Austria GBA Sebastian Pfleiderer Gerhard Hobier Albert Schedl Belgium GSB Sophie Decree Bulgaria MOEW Valeri Trendafilov Croatia HGI_CGS Josip Halamić Ajka Šorša Cyprus GSD Andreas Zissimos Czech Republic CZS Michal Ponavic Denmark GEUS Vibeke Ernstsen Estonia EGK Valter Petersell Finland GTK Tommi Kauppila Timo Tarvainen France BRGM Philippe Negrel Germany BGR Manfred Birke Hellas IGME Maria Kaminari Hungary MAFI Ubul Fügedi Lásló Kuti Kálmán Török Ireland GSI Ray Scanlon Italy ISPRA Marco Falconi Nicoletta Calace Maurizio Guerra Lithuania LGT Virgilija Gregorauskiene Luxembourg SGL Robert Maquil Norway NGU Clemens Reimann Ola Eggen Rolf Tore Ottesen Poland PGI Aleksandra Dusza-Dobek Pawel Kwecko Portugal LNEG Maria Joao Batista Romania GIR Adriana Ion Slovak Republic SGUDS Dusan Bodis Daniela Mackovych Slovenia GEOZS Mateja Gosar Spain IGME Juan Locutura Alejandro Bel-Lan Sweden SGU Madelen Andersson Anna Ladenberger Switzerland SWISSTOPO Peter Hayoz The Netherlands TNO Jasper Griffionen United Kingdom BGS Joanna Wragg Ukraine UGC Volodymyr Klos Geoinform Boris Malyuk Note: Alecos Demetriades (Hellas) and Patrick O Connor (Ireland), although retired, are still involved in projects of the Geochemistry Expert Group.

54 page 54 I EGS 2015 Annual Report GEOENERGY Chair: Peter Britze Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland GEUS Deputy Chair: Serge van Gessel Geological Survey of the Netherlands TNO EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Activities within the GeoEnergy Expert Group (GEEG) are mainly focused on integrating and harmonizing pan-european geological datasets and models, and using these for mapping and estimating the resource potential of the various geo-energy applications. The GEEG covers a wide range of subsurface energy technologies. Within the EU there is currently a strong focus on unconventional hydrocarbons, geothermal energy production, CO 2 storage and energy storage. In January the EGS Expert Group chairs met with JRC at Ispra, Italy. During this two-day workshop joint activities and potential contributions by EGS were discussed. For GEEG these activities focused the topics of shale gas, geothermal energy and CO 2 storage. An outcome from this meeting is that the GEEG has made a proposal to JRC on a joint project with the overall goal of providing a status overview and assessment of Europe's shale gas resources. Currently JRC is in negotiations with DG RTD regarding the funds for this project. The GEEG participated as an expert on geothermal energy for the UNECE resource classification group (UNFC). In 2013 the UNFC-2009 was accepted as a formal classification for fossil fuels and mineral resources. Current actions focus on extending this classification for renewable energy including geothermal. In 2015 and 2016 the GEEG will focus on realizing first goals and activities mentioned in the new road map for geothermal energy. Main task for Surveys is to demonstrate that the CCS topic remains highly relevant and alive. The GEEG does not follow a specific road map for CCS. Instead, activities focus on solidifying and sustaining the expertise on CCS and in particular CO 2 geological storage, within GEEG. In December 2014 DG-ENER awarded a proposal on energy storage mapping and planning (ESTMAP project) submitted by EGS members TNO, BRGM and CGS and partners ECOFYS and VITO. This two-year project will result in the development of a pan-european database on existing and future above surface and subsurface energy storage. The GEEG is and will be responsive to the demands for an ERA-NET call on water, minerals, and energy. MISSION AND VISION The growing demand for secure, clean and affordable energy supply presents key challenges for Europe. In that respect the subsurface is a major contributor for geo-energy resources (fossil fuel, energy minerals, thermal) and provides solutions for temporarily storing energy carriers and by-products of energy production such as CO 2. Geological knowledge is crucial in understanding the nature and distribution of geo-energy resources as well as the many aspects related to their exploration and development. The national geological surveys that are joined under EuroGeoSurveys are the primary and most comprehensive source for providing public information and expertise. The general mission of the EGS Geo-Energy Expert Group (GEEG) is to initiate and coordinate collaborative activities by its members in order to provide and publish impartial, scientifically robust and harmonized information and expertise to advance the understanding of

55 page 55 I EGS 2015 Annual Report fossil fuel and geothermal energy resources, and CO 2 and energy storage capacities in Europe contribute to plans for a secure energy future To analyze and facilitate possibilities for responsible and sustainable use of geo-energy resources in Europe. The Geo-Energy Expert Group aspires a leading role in providing geological and geo-technical information and advice on geo-energy topics to European policy makers and relevant stakeholders. A key position within European information networks on geo-energy is envisioned. It is the vision of GEEG that pan-european information on geo-energy potential will have improved significantly in the coming five years. Through funded European and interregional projects, GEEG will have closed some of the key knowledge gaps. Geological models and resource assessments will be better integrated and harmonized in cross border focal areas while firm foundations for state of art pan-european assessment methodologies have been developed. SCOPE AND FOCUS Activities within the GEEG are mainly focused on integrating and harmonizing pan-european geological datasets and models, and using these for mapping and estimating the resource potential of the various geo-energy applications. In this context there are important challenges with regard to reducing incompatibilities and model heterogeneities between countries and developing state of art assessment methodologies. Besides resource assessment, the GEEG collects and provides expert knowledge on exploration and exploitation issues (e.g. competition, induced hazards and environmental issues) based on shared national experiences and studies. Knowledge and information from the GEEG is intended to serve as essential and objective building blocks for supporting decisions on Europe s energy future. The GEEG covers a wide range of subsurface energy technologies. Within the EU there is currently a strong focus on unconventional hydrocarbons, geothermal energy production, CO 2 storage and energy storage. ACTIVITY REPORT BI-ANNUAL MEETINGS AND JRC COLLABORATION In 2014 the members of the Geo-Energy Expert Group convened during two meetings. At TNO (Utrecht, March 6th and 7th) the composition of the group was extended by the former CCS Expert Group. Activities for all main topics (unconventional, geothermal and CCS) were discussed in light of the recent JRC Collaboration Agreement. The group discussed a first work plan on shale gas for JRC. A presentation linking GEEG activities to DC-RTD was prepared. The group discussed potential contributions to the H2020-B.2.7 call on Energy Storage Mapping and Planning. During the second meeting at GSB (Brussels, October 9th) a submitted proposal answering the EC Energy storage mapping and planning (ESTMAP) call was presented. The Dutch, French and Czech member institutes coordinate subsurface contributions by EGS. Furthermore the succession and new election of the Chairperson was announced for early 2015.

56 page 56 I EGS 2015 Annual Report In January the EGS Expert Group chairs met with JRC at Ispra, Italy. During this two-day workshop joint activities and potential contributions by EGS were discussed. For GEEG these activities focused the topics of shale gas, geothermal energy and CO 2 storage. UNCONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBONS Following the EGS-JRC meetings at Ispra, several follow-up meetings were organized by the GEEG chairs and JRC-Petten in order to further examine common interests and specific activities on pan-european shale gas assessment. EGS submitted a draft work plan formulating potential future contributions to JRC and focusing on a 2015 status report on shale gas. On July 8th JRC and several DG s of the European Commission organized a high level event at Brussels, introducing a new Science and Technology Network on unconventional hydrocarbons. GEEG was represented by the chairs and EGS president Mart van Bracht who held a keynote presentation. GEEG is now appointed member of the network and contributes on subsurface expertise. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY The GEEG is invited to participate as an expert on geothermal energy for the UNECE resource classification group (UNFC). GEEG was represented at a two-day workshop in Geneva on November 21st and 22nd. In 2013 the UNFC-2009 was accepted as a formal classification for fossil fuels and mineral resources. Current actions focus on extending this classification for renewable energy including geothermal. At the bi-annual GEEG meeting in Brussels, an initiative for a roadmap on Geothermal Energy was presented. Members of the Dutch, Belgian, Austrian and Danish surveys have elaborated a first draft of the roadmap focusing our actions and contributions for the period CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE (CCS) A main network contact for the GEEG regarding CO 2 geological storage is CO 2 GeoNet. They were actively and successfully following up on e.g. a review of the CCS directive (no need for GEEG to interfere). Main task for Surveys is to demonstrate that the CCS topic remains highly relevant and alive. Actions focus on sharing info among surveys and evaluating how this can best be valorised with maximal return and scientific impact. During the bi-annual meeting in Brussels a master study on CCS in Sweden was presented. This study involves a scientific collaboration between GSB-RBINS and SGU. ENERGY STORAGE In December 2014 DG-ENER awarded a proposal on energy storage mapping and planning (ESTMAP project) submitted by EGS members TNO, BRGM and CGS and partners ECOFYS and VITO. This two-year project will result in the development of a pan-european database on existing and future above surface and subsurface energy storage. EGS member institutes will provide an important contribution with regard to pan-european information on geological storage options. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES UNCONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBONS The GEEG has made a proposal to JRC on a joint project with the overall goal of providing a status overview and assessment of Europe's shale gas resources by performing an independent, scientific based evaluations based on existing and publicly accessible geological information. The study will focus on providing a consistent and pan-european overview of the existing geological knowledge of prospective shale gas and shale oil intervals including geological maps of their regional distribution and characteristics and descriptions of

57 page 57 I EGS 2015 Annual Report relevant characteristics and geological evolution, estimating prospective unconventional resources of shale gas and shale oil using uniform and broadly accepted volume evaluation methodologies based on readily available source data as input. Currently JRC is in negotiations with DG RTD regarding the overall agreement that will provide the funds for geological work on a shale gas status report and resource assessment. EGS GEEG is awaiting the result of this negotiation. GEOTHERMAL In 2015 and 2016 the GEEG will focus on realizing first goals and activities mentioned in the new road map for geothermal energy. These actions should lead to a better insight in the current knowledge and information gaps and serve as a basis for future funded projects by EGS members. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) The GEEG does not follow a specific road map for CCS. Instead, activities focus on solidifying and sustaining the expertise on CCS and in particular CO 2 geological storage, withing GEEG. The following activities are in line with this objective: - There is need and interest to share information on ongoing research and exploration projects. The annual GEEG meetings are suited for such exchange of information. CCS expertise needs to be embedded in GEEG in order for EGS to act as a one-stop shop for geo-energy for the COM or similar actors. The permanent character of storage of CO 2 is an important element when considering the maximum valorization of the subsurface, and needs to be taken into account when discussing energy storage, shale gas extraction, deep geothermal energy production, etc. ENERGY STORAGE In 2015 the ESTMAP project will start gathering main subsurface contributions from EGS. The public results on geological storage will be shared with the GEEG. ERA-NET Recently, the EU Commission has invited EuroGeoSurvey to apply for an ERA-NET call on water, minerals, energy. In 2015 GEEG is and will be responsive to the demands to obtain this ERA-NET.

58 page 58 I EGS 2015 Annual Report LIST OF MEMBERS COUNTRY Surveys Expert Austria GBA Gerhard Letouze GBA Gregor Götzl GBA Piotr Lipiarski Belgium GSB Estelle Petitclerc GSB Kris Piessens C.Republic CGS Vit Hladik Cyprus GSD Ioannis Panayides Denmark GEUS Peter Britze GEUS Jens Stockmarr GEUS Niels Poulsen Finland GTK Runar Blomqvist France BRGM Didier Bonijoly BRGM Aurélien Leynet BRGM Philippe Calcagno BRGM Isabelle Czernichowski Germany BGR Harald Andruleit BGR Birgit Kuhns BGR Peter Gerling BGR Franz May Greece IGME Dr. George Vougioukalakis IGME Yiorgos Chatziyiannis Hungary MAFI Anna Maria Nador Ireland GSI Taly Hunter GSI John Morris GSI Brian McConnell Italy ISPRA Fernando Ferri ISPRA Marcello Iocca Lithuania LTI Jurga Lazauskiene Malta MRA Michael Schembri Poland PGI Grzegorz Ryzynski PGI Hubert Kiersnowski PGI Monika Konieczyńska PGI Adam Wojcicki PGI Monika Skrzeczkowska Romania IGR Mircea Ticleanu Slovak Republic SGUDS Ludovit Kucharic Slovenia GeoZS Milos Markic Spain IGME Roberto Martinez Orio Sweden SGU Mikael Erlström SGU Linda Wickström The Netherlands TNO Serge Van Gessel TNO Henk Pagnier United Kingdom BGS Michael Stephenson

59 page 59 I EGS 2015 Annual Report EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOHAZARDS EXPERT GROUP Chair: Gerardo Herrera Geological Survey of Spain IGME Deputy Chair (for GeoHazards): Eleftheria Poyiadji Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration IGME, Greece EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2014, the activity of EOEG members revealed a heterogeneous and diverse character explained by the particular geological, physiographical and geographical characteristics of every country. Approximately 30 national and international projects were reported by EOEG members. From the view point of Earth Observation (EO) applications, radar interferometry (InSAR) is broadly used for the detection and monitoring of surficial terrain motion. hyperspectral remote sensing, LiDAR or airborne geophysics are being used for geological mapping, mineral exploration, environmental impact assessment or bathymetric applications. A considerable effort is also placed in maintaining in situ observation systems, which are usually combined with remote sensing data. From the view point of Geohazards most of the reported projects and activities focus on the elaboration of national inventories, the assessment of susceptibility and hazard related with landslides, subsidence and earthquakes. Other reported geoscientific activities target flooding, mineral exploration, environmental impact and bathymetry. In addition to the national activities reported by each member, EOEG attended several GEO meetings providing input for the GEO strategic plan Presentations were made to EGS National Delegates and Directors meetings and preliminary contacts were made with JRC for potential collaboration. EOEG represented EGS in Terrafirma and PanGeo projects, and submitted two project proposals (GATES and SLOPEHAZARD) to H2020 and the Cost action program. In addition a new EOEG/ EGS working group on landslides/subsidence was created and a new deputy chair, Maria Przylucka, was appointed replacing Claudie Carnec. In 2015, EOEG will create thematic subgroups where GS activity can be coordinated around specific topics: landslides/subsidence; earthquakes; radar interferometry, etc. The aim of these working groups is to kick off scientific/technical collaboration. For instance EOEG/EGS working group on landslides/subsidence will assess: the status of the different national inventories; EGS susceptibility and hazard mapping practices; the possibility of establishing a European network of in-situ observation systems of landslides/subsidence to be used as a benchmark for EO data. This could be a first step from EGS to cluster domain users and EO providers around a new GEO initiative, Global Observation Initiative on geo-hydrological risks (GEORISK), where harmonized datasets on geohazards could be delivered. MISSION AND VISION The mision of the Earth Observation and Geohazards Expert Group from the Geological Surveys of Europe (EOEG) is to bridge the gap between Earth Observation (EO) technological and scientific capabilities and the delivery of harmonized pan-european information on geosciences (geohazards, georesources and environnment) improving the operational capacity and economic capabilities of governments, institutions, organizations, businesses and individuals. Our vision is that EGS will increasingly become a key European organisation for Earth Observation and Geohazards through: the application of EO technology to geosciences (geohazards, georesources and environment); the implementation of long

60 page 60 I EGS 2015 Annual Report term in-situ observation systems where EO data can be benchmarked; the delivery of harmonized pan-european information on geohazards. These actions will help the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) creating a Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) in the framework of EC s Copernicus initiative. SCOPE AND FOCUS The scope of EOEG is twofold: 1) the application of the full range of EO tools (optical, hyperspectral, thermal, radar) from various platforms (satellite, airborne, in-situ) to geohazards, resources exploration and production, environmental assessments and waste management, and 2) = the detection, mapping, monitoring and forecasting of geohazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsidence and flooding). Over the past five years, EOEG members participated in numerous national and international projects related with Earth Observation and/or Geohazards (e.g. Terrafirma, Pangeo, Safeland, Evoss, EO-MINERS, Inqua, SubCoast, Doris, Lampre, EGDI-Scope, etc.), EuroGeoSurveys being a participating organisation in GEO. ACTIVITY REPORT In 2014, the activity of EOEG members revealed a heterogeneous and diverse character explained by the particular geological, physiographical and geographical characteristics of every country. Approximately 30 national and international projects were reported by EOEG members (Fig. 1). From the view point of Earth Observation applications, radar interferometry (InSAR) is used in 50% of the project for the detection and monitoring of surficial terrain motion usually related to landslide or subsidence phenomena. hyperspectral remote sensing, LiDAR or airborne gephysics are being used for mineral exploration, environmental impact assessment or bathymetric applications. A considerable effort is placed in maintaining in situ observation systems of geohazards, which are usually combined with airborne or space borne monitoring data. From the view point of Geohazards most of the reported projects and activities focus on landslides (40%), subsidence (20%) and earthquakes (15%). In this context most of the efforts are devoted to the elaboration of national inventories, to susceptibility and hazard assessment and also to the implementation of advanced numerical models. Other reported geoscientific activities target flooding, mineral exploration, environmental impact and bathymetry. In addition to the national activities reported by each member, EOEG attended several GEO meetings providing input for the GEO strategic plan Presentations were made to EGS National Delegates and Directors meetings and preliminary contacts were made with JRC for potential collaboration. EOEG represented EGS in Terrafirma and PanGeo projects, and submitted two project proposals (GATES and SLOPEHAZARD) to H2020 and the Cost action program. In addition a new EOEG/ EGS working group on landslides/subsidence was created and a new deputy chair, Maria Przylucka, was appointed replacing Claudie Carnec. Below a brief summary of every action and its results is described. GEO Ministerial Summit and GEO-X Plenary meeting, Geneve, 12th-18th January 2014: EOEG was represented by Gerardo Herrera, being part of EGS delegation list. EOEG role in GEO work plan was assessed. It was acknowledged that little/no attention has been paid to geo-hydrological risks (i.e. floods, landslides, subsidence) on task DI-01 and related components (especially DI-01-C2). Fig. 1. Top: Earth Observation component of the projects reported by 14 EOEG members in Vienna annual meeting (30/04/14) - Bottom: Geosciences component of the projects reported by 14 EOEG members in Vienna annual meeting (30/04/14).

61 page 61 I EGS 2015 Annual Report EGS JRC kick-off meeting, Ispra, 27th-28th January 2014: EOEG was represented by Gerardo Herrera and Eleftheria Poyiadji. Aiming to ensure long term cooperation in sharing geo-scientific information and knowledge, it was agreed to collaborate in the following issues: (1) Improvement of datasets and tools for geo-hazards preparedness, early warning and response, as well as on impact assessment; (2) Exchange of information about potential new products for Copernicus Emergency Management Services (EMS); (3) Co-organizing workshops and/or working groups in the area of Earth Observation and Geo-Hazards. EGS National Delegates, Brussels, 10th February 2014: EOEG was represented by Gerardo Herrera, who provided a presentation about EOEG recent and future activities. In the framework of EGS strategy meeting, EOEG participated in the development of the ERA-NET and in the definition of EGDI-Scope future perspectives. Submission of GATES project proposal to H2020, 26th March 2014: The project Global Assessment of Tectonics Displacements (GATES) was submitted to H2020 as a response to the call EO LEIT SPACE. The aim of GATES was fully integrating InSAR and GNSS in a single accurate wide area terrain motion map improving tectonic risk estimation. This project leaded by several partners of Terrafirma project, was participated by EGS through EOEG. The proposal was rejected in July More than likely an improved version of the project will be presented in 2015, increasing EOEG role in the new proposal leaded by Luca Guerrieri (ISPRA) and other interested EOEG members in tectonics. Submission of SLOPEHAZARD project proposal to Cost Action, 28th March 2014: The project A network to foster European harmonization of slope movement hazard assessment (SLOPEHAZARD) was submitted by a consortium of equally distributed research organizations and geological surveys aiming to set up new harmonized slope movement datasets and hazard maps ensuring data interoperability. Even though the proposal was positively evaluated in June 2014, it did not get the funding. However an improved version of the proposal will be submitted early in First Terrafirma Stage 4 WAP Workshop, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, 31st March 1st April 2014: Eleftheria Poyiadji, EOEG deputy chair, represented EGS in Terrafirma stage 4 project participating as a stakeholder. The latest developments in the Wide Area Processing (WAP) prototype processor for use with Sentinel-1 (S1) were presented and discussed concentrating on its future application on tectonics. EOEG Annual Meeting, Vienna, 30th April 2014: presentation of national activities on Earth Observation and Geohazards were made by 14 Geological Surveys. Overall, national reports revealed a certain heterogeneity and diversity of their activities, which are due to the particular geological, physiographical and geographical characteristics of every country. However, geo-hazards are an underpinning activity of the EOEG members focusing on landslides, subsidence and earthquakes. Other activities focus on Observation applications to mineral exploration and exploitation, environment or bathymetry. 8TH GEO European Projects workshop, Athens, June 2014: EOEG was represented by Eleftheria Poyiadji. A presentation was made during the splinter session on How GEOSS-related projects are responding to European challenges in different Societal Benefit Areas in which the focus was on showcasing the progress European Geological Surveys are making towards a geological information system for Europe namely via the EGDI-Scope project on designing a European Geological Data Infrastructure and the Minerals4EU project.

62 page 62 I EGS 2015 Annual Report 2nd South Eastern Europe GEO Workshop, Athens, October 2014: EOEG was represented by Marianthi Stefouli and Natalia Spanou from IGME-GR. A presentation was included in the Plenary Session IV titled From National Aspects to Regional Perspectives with the title: The EuroGeoSurveys Earth Observation / GEO Activities by Gerardo Herrera, Eleftheria Poyiadji, Patric Wall and Marianthi Stefouli. EuroGeoSurveys Workshop, Living with Geological Risks, Bern, 22nd of October 2014: Gerardo Herrera, EOEG chair, made the presentation Earth Observation and Geohazards, focusing on the recent and future activities of EOEG. Second Terrafirma Stage 4 WAP Workshop, Frascati, Italy, 28th October 29th October 2014: Eleftheria Poyiadji, EOEG deputy chair, represented EGS in Terrafirma stage 4 project participating as a stakeholder. This workshop concludes the whole project representing the technical developments and results of the Terrafirma Stage 4. The Wide Area Processing (WAP) prototype processor for use with Sentinel-1 (S1) was completed and long-term access to Terrafirma products were secured through OneGeology-Europe portal. GEO-XI plenary meeting, Geneve, November 2014: EOEG contributed to the review of the draft document: GEO Strategic Plan : Implementing GEOSS, writing several considerations on Draft note GEO The next ten years Perspectives from European Participating Organisations. Appointment of new deputy chair, 5th December 2014: Maria Przylucka has been appointed to act as new Deputy Chair for EOEG replacing Claudie Carnec. She is a young and motivated scientist that can be an excellent deputy chair helping us to increase EOEG activity. Creation of the EOEG/EGS working group on landslides/subsidence, 12th December 2014: 23 Geological Surveys agreed to participate in this working group. The objective could be threefold: (1) review the status of the different national landslide/ subsidence inventories among EGS; (2) review practices of landslide susceptibility and hazard mapping among EGS; (3) prepare a European network of long term in-situ observation systems of landslides/subsidence FUTURE PERSPECTIVES There is a public need to increase Earth Observation and Geohazards data infrastructure generation at a European level that is not supported by the current calls of Horizon 2020, since they are focused on commercial market applications and the role of private companies and SME s (small and medium enterprises). EGS has an important role to play to explain this view to European policy representatives and stakeholders. This will not very much influence current Horizon 2020 calls (2014/2015), but can moreover influence the Horizon 2020 research program in next stages (e.g. 2016/2017 calls). Moreover, EGS could cluster domain users and EO providers around a new GEO initiative, e.g. Global Observation Initiative on geo-hydrological risks (GEORISK) in order to deliver harmonized datasets on geo-hydrological risks and hazard maps exploiting EO data (using OneGeology as a basis). In the midterm, EOEG will create new thematic subgroups where a reduced number of members will work on specific topics: landslides/subsidence; earthquakes; radar interferometry, EO in mining, etc. The aim of these working groups is to kick off scientific/ technical collaboration within the EOEG and to create consortiums to participate in future H2020 calls. Other thematic subgroups will be created if application areas become apparent. The EOEG/EGS working group on landslides/ subsidence, created late in 2014, will start its

63 page 63 I EGS 2015 Annual Report activity in 2015 coordinating 23 Geological Surveys around the following objectives: (1) review the status of the different national landslide/subsidence inventories among EGS; (2) review practices of landslide susceptibility and hazard mapping among EGS; (3) prepare a European network of long term in-situ observation systems of landslides/subsidence LIST OF MEMBERS COUNTRY Surveys Expert AUSTRIA GBA Robert Supper AUSTRIA GBA Arben Kociu BELGIUM GSB Pierre-Yves Declercq CZECH REPUBLIC CZS Veronika Kopackova DENMARK GEUS Jens Stockmarr DENMARK GEUS Jorgen Tulstrup DENMARK GEUS Signe Bech Andersen DENMARK GEUS Karen Hanghoj FRANCE BRGM Stéphane Chevrel FRANCE BRGM Francis Bertrand FRANCE BRGM Guillaume Martelet GERMANY BGR Birgit Kuhns GERMANY BGR Dirk Balzer GERMANY BGR Thomas Lege GERMANY BGR Michaela Frei GREECE IGME Eleftheria Poyiadji IRELAND GSI Michael Sheehy ITALY ISPRA Luca Guerrieri ITALY ISPRA Alessandro Trigila ITALY ISPRA Valerio Comerci ITALY ISPRA Eutizio Vittori LITHUANIA LGT Jolanta Cyziene NORWAY NGU Jan Host NORWAY NGU Reginald Hermanns NORWAY NGU John Dehls POLAND PGI Zbigniew Kowalski POLAND PGI Marek Graniczny POLAND PGI Maria Przylucka PORTUGAL LNEG Teresa Cunha PORTUGAL LNEG Lídia Quental RUSSIAN FEDERATION VSEGEI Olga Krutkina RUSSIAN FEDERATION VSEGEI Aleksandr Kirsanov SLOVAK REPUBLIC SGUDS Pavel Liščák Slovenia GEOZS Jernej Jež SLOVENIA GEOZS Mateja Jemec SPAIN IGME Manuel Regueiro SPAIN IGME Gerardo Herrera SWEDEN SGU Cecilia Jelinek THE NETHERLANDS TNO Paul Bogaard THE NETHERLANDS TNO Rob van der Krogt UK BGS Colm Jordan UK BGS Luke Bateson UK BGS Francesca Cigna

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65 page 65 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Statistics 2014 In this section you will find some interesting statistical information on EuroGeoSurveys membership evolution, publications, member organisations, such as staff numbers and budget data, showing past trends as well as specific details from Membership and Staffing EuroGeoSurveys represented a combined total of over staff in This table shows the fluctuations of staff numbers within our membership over the past 10 years. Please note that data is not always available at time of collection. In general, for most of the Surveys, we can notice a slight decrease of the staff number, linked to the economic downturn in Europe, which unfortunately continues despite a small recovery of numbers in Total staff fluctuation over years Country Albania Austria , Belgium Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic ,1 307 Denmark Estonia Finland France ,9 928 Germany Greece Hungary Ireland ,05 57 Italy Lithuania Luxembourg Malta** Netherlands Norway Poland , Portugal Romania Slovak Republic Slovenia Russia** Spain Sweden ,8 252 Switzerland Ukraine United Kingdom ,2 654 Grand Total , , , , , , , , ,55

66 Statistics 2014 page 66 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Total/permanent staff per country Total incomes per country in 2014 (in million ) Total staff for each EGS Member (in red), showing the proportion of permanent graduate researchers, scientists and engineers (in blue). Data for some countries was not available at the time of print. For 2014, the total staff numbers reached , and a total of 5925 for the scientific staff. The combined budgets of EGS Members totaled over 928 million, which is higher than the previous years (around 770 million). Reason???? The budget of Italy is not representative as the Survey is part of a larger organization, the data provided is ISPRA total budget.

67 Statistics 2014 page 67 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Breakdown incomes in 2014 (in %) The national geological surveys throughout Europe receive funding from a number of different sources, which are mainly government state funding but also EU research funding, whilst some also receive private funding through commercial activities. Per reviewed publications in 2014 The total number of peer reviewed publication on international scientist journals is almost Highlight that Slovak Republic, while small survey, is the third one in the publication ranking.

68 Statistics 2014 page 68 I EGS 2015 Annual Report EGS activities in 2014 Expertise can be called upon to address a broad range of topics, from the more common geological issues like geological mapping or geohazards, to less obvious areas such as how to deal with glaciology or even geotourism.

69 Statistics 2014 page 69 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Breakdown activities in 2014 (in %) Supervising governmental bodies in 2013 Subdivision of the activities by topics area. Basic Geological Research and environment seem to be the most addressed ones. Supervising governmental bodies in 2014 ** Survey having replied to the questionnaire but did not provide information to this category * Data provided have been adapted The national geological surveys that make up EGS are all public bodies that are under the supervision of various government ministries. There was a continuing trend over the last few years for Geological Surveys increasingly coming under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy/Industry and Economy (previously it was the Ministry of Environment). We noticed also a slight decrease of NGS under the supervision of Research and Sciences Ministry.

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71 page 71 I EGS 2015 Annual Report Publications Chemistry of Europe s Agricultural Soils The Chemistry of Europe s Agricultural Soils atlas, composed of two volumes, presents the first complete overview of the chemical inventory of one of our most valuable natural resources: the soils we live on and which nourish us. For the first time accurate maps of trace elements and even precious metals like gold and silver can be studied in a continental spatial context, providing many unexpected insights and opening new avenues of further research in classical soil sciences, but also in mineral exploration, environmental sciences, forensic applications, and remote sensing. Minerals in your life Minerals in your life is an educational book that combines a hilarious comic strip storyline with an extensive description of minerals, along with stunning images. Through one adventurous day of the cartoon protagonist, Norman, we find out the minerals used in very common objects of our everyday life, from paper to shampoo, from a bike to a television. Fifty-one top expert geologists contributed to communicate the fascinating qualities of each mineral, for a total of 30 minerals. Whatever curiosities you may have about minerals, Minerals in your life satisfies them with an approach that it is as scientifically precise as entertaining. This book should be on the shelf of everyone who has a professional, administrative, or emotional connection to Europe s soil. The atlas provides access to the first fully harmonised and quality controlled database of metals in agricultural and grazing land soil at the European scale. The two volumes are the result of a cooperation between more than 60 organisations from around the world. Project leader and lead editor is Clemens Reimann, who in 2013 was awarded the prestigious gold medal of the Association of Applied Geochemists as a leader in the fields of environmental geochemistry, geostatistics, and geochemical mapping.