EPB Meets with European Commission and EAAS Representatives to Discuss the Future of Polar Research in Europe

On 8 and 9 June 2026, representatives of the European Polar Board (EPB) met with officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) in Brussels.

The meetings provided an opportunity to exchange views on the future of polar research in Europe, including its role within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 and the forthcoming Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), as well as its contribution to key European policy initiatives such as the EU Arctic Policy, the Ocean Pact, and Ocean Eye.

Across all meetings, the EPB emphasised the importance of maintaining a bipolar perspective in European research and policy. While the Arctic remains a strategic priority for Europe, many of the environmental, oceanic, and climate processes shaping Europe's future are driven by interactions between the Arctic, Antarctica, the global ocean and climate systems. The EPB highlighted that sustained observations, research, international cooperation, and coordination across both polar regions are essential for generating the knowledge needed to support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen Europe's preparedness and resilience, and address future environmental, economic, and societal challenges. Continued investment in polar research also underpins major European initiatives, including Copernicus, Destination Earth, Ocean Eye, and the European Digital Twin Ocean.

On June 8, EPB Executive Secretary Dr. Maria Grigoratou met with representatives of the EEAS, Morten A. Østerø Seconded National Expert, and S Sorvali, to discuss the forthcoming update of the EU Arctic Policy. Discussions focused on the forthcoming update of the EU Arctic Policy. The EPB underlined the importance of maintaining a strong science-based foundation for the policy and stressed that climate change remains the primary driver of change across the Arctic. Maria also highlighted the need to recognise polar research as a continued strategic priority for Europe to maintain the knowledge and expertise required to anticipate change and support resilient and sustainable societies.

On June 9, EPB Chair Prof. Peter Sköld, Executive Secretary Dr. Maria Grigoratou, and Executive Committee Member Dragomir Mateev met with DG RTD representatives Director Healthy Planet James Morrison, Policy Officer Larisa Lorinczi, and Economic and Policy Analyst Lorna Schrefler.  In discussions the EPB emphasised the importance of maintaining strong support for polar research within FP10 and the next EU budget cycle. The exchange addressed the contribution of polar science to European scientific capacity for knowledge security as important element for, resilience, strategic foresight, innovation, and competitiveness, as well as the need for long-term support for observations, research infrastructures, data systems.

From left to right: James Morrison (Director Healthy Planet in DG RTD), Maria Grigoratou (EPB Executive Secretary), Peter Sköld (EPB Chair), Lorna Schrefler (Economic and Policy Analyst in DG RTD), Larisa Lorinczi (Policy Officer in DG RTD) and Dragomir Mateev (EPB Executive Committee Member).  

Discussions with DG MARE, attended by Deputy Director-General Kestutis Sadauskas, Legal and International Relations Officer Vassilis Dokalis, and Seconded National Expert, International Relations Officer Anna Popova, addressed the Ocean Pact, Ocean Eye, the EU Arctic Policy, EMODnet, and blue economy related issues in the Arctic and Antarctic. The EPB highlighted the critical role of polar observations and research in supporting ocean intelligence, sustainable ocean governance, and informed decision-making.

Throughout the meetings the EPB also highlighted the role of the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO), established as a legacy of the EU-PolarNet HORIZON projects. EPCO aims to provide a long-term coordination mechanism for the European polar research community by strengthening collaboration and facilitate science-policy dialogue for maximising the impact of European investments in polar research.

The meetings are part of EPB's continued engagement on EU’s future policy and investment priorities in MFF 2028-2034. They follow the European Polar Board’s recent contributions to the Commission’s Call for Evidence on the Ocean Pact, the Ocean Observation Initiative, and the EU Arctic Policy Update, as well as EPB's Open Call for polar research on FP10, now supported by over 900 signatories, and letters to European decision makers in June and September 2025.

From left to right: Dragomir Mateev (EPB Executive Committee Member), Anna Popova (Seconded National Expert, International Relations Officer in DG-MARE), Vassilis Dokalis (Legal and International Relations Officer in DG-MARE)  Maria Grigoratou (EPB Executive Secretary), Peter Sköld (EPB Chair), Kęstutis Sadauskas (Deputy Director-General, DG MARE).