European Commission logo
Energy, Climate change, Environment

Help us improve EMODnet! Open stakeholder consultation

News article |

The purpose is to evaluate the performance and functioning of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). The findings of the evaluation will be used to guide activities undertaken in support of marine knowledge in the remaining years 2019-2020 of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and to feed into the preparatory process for a possible follow-up post 2020.

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) contributes to the EU's integrated maritime policy. It was set up as a flagship project to prepare a seamless multi-resolution digital seabed map of European waters by 2020. Following the Green Paper "Marine Knowledge 2020" it had been estimated that public bodies in European countries were spending over one billion a year in observing the seas and oceans including work by hydrographic organisations, geological surveys, scientists and environmental agencies. However, scientists and engineers who wanted to use the data had encountered that they were difficult to find and were hampered by restrictive usage conditions and poor interoperability. Data from different sources had different baselines, different formats, different nomenclature and different standards. The Commission Communication on "Innovation in the Blue Economy" set out a roadmap for replacing the fragmented, inaccessible and inhomogeneous repositories of marine data in the EU by a sustainable process whereby data are easily accessible, interoperable and free of restrictions on use.

This consultation is aimed at researchers, public authorities, private bodies and civil society concerned with coastal or offshore issues who contribute to EMODnet, use EMODnet or could use EMODnet. More details can be found on the EMODnet web-site and in the 2017 EMODnet annual report. This also includes a budget breakdown.

The questionnaire is here! https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EMODnet_evaluation