NEWS

European Geological Surveys Strengthen Cooperation in Granada through MREG, GSEU and ICE-SRM EU for Sustainable Mineral Resource Management and the Implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act

On April 1 and 2, 2025, members of the Mineral Resources Expert Group (MREG) of The Geological Surveys of Europe (EGS – EuroGeoSurveys) and the mineral resources team of Work Package 2 (WP2) of the GSEU project (Geological Service for Europe) met for a working meeting in Granada, Spain.

MREG of EuroGeoSurveys brings together around 80 experts from all European geological surveys, providing essential expertise on mineral resources to support policy-making. MREG actively participates in the GSEU initiative – Geological Service for Europe – within the work package dedicated to mineral resources. Its aim is to collect, harmonize, and share data, information, and knowledge at the European level to support the implementation of the recently adopted Critical Raw Materials Act (CRM Act).

In line with the CRM Act, all Member States are required to prepare a National Exploration Programme (NEP) focused on critical raw materials by May 24, 2025. During the MREG meetings, particular attention was given to the planning and implementation status of these national exploration programmes across Member States, with a focus on common reporting templates and requirements for the annual NEP reports.

EGDI (European Geological Data Infrastructure) is a European platform for geological data developed and maintained by national geological surveys across Europe. This infrastructure facilitates the collection, storage, and exchange of standardized geological data at the European level. An EGDI Editorial Board has been established, consisting of one to two representatives from each expert group and chaired by the Secretary General of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS). Guillaume Bertrand and Henrike Siewers were elected as MREG representatives to the Board. The mission of the Board is to optimize the EGDI infrastructure through content management, quality control, compliance and ethics, identifying knowledge gaps, and fostering collaboration.

EGDI link: https://www.europe-geology.eu/

Within the GSEU project, the ICE-SRM EU (European International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management) is being established under the leadership of the Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS). The Centre will serve as a hub for capacity building and knowledge exchange, supporting the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the UN Resource Management System (UNRMS) with the goal of advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). ICE-SRM EU will act as a network of partners and experts, with a central office supporting activities such as promotion, capacity development, methodological and technical work, and the creation of relevant databases. The official launch of ICE-SRM EU is scheduled for May 21, 2025, in Nova Gorica (Slovenia), with the signing of an agreement between EGS and GeoZS.

More on ICE-SRM EU:https://www.geologicalservice.eu/areas-of-expertise/raw-materials/european-international-centre-of-excellence-on-sustainable-resource-management

Among the highlights was a presentation from Queensland, Australia, showcasing the Digital Twin. This is a complex project involving regular collection of spatial data from various sources, their standardization, and the creation of a virtual entity. Digital twins represent accurate virtual models of real-world objects or systems and are used for planning, monitoring, simulations, and testing without impacting the real environment.

More about the Digital Twin: https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/news-and-events/how-digital-twins-could-help-us-plan-a-better-queensland

On April 4 in Granada, a workshop was also held on the MIN4EU database. Min4EU is a European database that compiles reliable and standardized information on mineral deposits in EU Member States. It was developed within EU initiatives to support sustainable resource management and strategic planning. The database facilitates easier access to data on raw materials relevant to the EU economy, including critical raw materials. Min4EU is integrated into the EGDI platform, ensuring data availability to a wide range of users through the shared European geological infrastructure.

More information:https://metadata.europe-geology.eu/record/basic/572a0113-efd0-408d-9a1b-4c640a010855

Mineral Resources Team of Work Package 2 (WP2) of the GSEU project at the working meeting in Granada

Workshop on the MIN4EU database