EuroGeographics marks 25th anniversary with record-breaking gathering of geospatial leaders

Leaders from 47 European national mapping, cadastral and land registration authorities recently met in Latvia to exchange insights on delivering authoritative data in increasingly uncertain times. Hosted by the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency, with support from the State Land Service, the EuroGeographics 2025 General Assembly was one of the largest gatherings in the not-for-profit association’s 25-year history.

Over the course of the two-day event, members re-elected Tomaž Petek from the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia as president, and Suren Tovmasyan from the Cadastre Committee of the Republic of Armenia to the management board.

Welcoming delegates, Tomaž Petek said: “EuroGeographics is a remarkable example of what can be achieved through Europe-wide cooperation.” “The association celebrating its silver jubilee, however, is very different to the one established at the turn of the millennium. Today, we are recognized as the point of contact for advice, comment and supply of European geospatial and land information from official national sources, not only in Europe, but also at global level through our partnership with the United Nations Statistical Division and UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).”

“Bringing together not only members’ collective expertise, but also their data across national boundaries is the association’s primary strength and a powerful symbol of certainty and trust in a complex and uncertain world. We remain united by a common purpose to support the public good, and we have overcome many different challenges to ensure that official data is recognized as an essential component of national, European and global critical infrastructures,” he added.

Integrating data into infrastructures

Sallie Payne Snell, secretary general and executive director of EuroGeographics, added: “Welcoming us to Riga, the minister of defence recognized that members have long been trusted sources of geospatial information but that today a modern mapping agency must be able to operate under conditions of uncertainty.”

“This week, we have demonstrated why their data can be trusted, why it can be relied upon, and why it is a fundamental resource that enables us to look to the future with confidence and certainty in challenging and unpredictable times,” she continued. “As we take our next steps together in realizing our vision of a society empowered by the use of trusted geospatial services, our focus must be on enabling access to members’ high-value data and expertise through integration into the infrastructures we depend upon as a modern society.”

The General Assembly coincided with the release of the association’s latest Annual Review, featuring case studies that highlight members’ essential role in ensuring fundamental location information is available to support confident, informed decision-making. Examples range from security, climate change and environmental monitoring to economic growth and prosperity.