European Federation of Geologists
EFG
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 1980 and includes today 27 national association members.
ID: 97706556032-41
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Martin Hojsík (Member of the European Parliament) and ENEL SpA and
26 Nov 2025 · Geothermal energy breakfast
Meeting with Jan Farský (Member of the European Parliament) and European Geothermal Energy Council and
26 Nov 2025 · Support to geothermal energy
Response to Circular Economy Act
4 Nov 2025
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to launch a public consultation for the upcoming Circular Economy Act. As the EU strives to double its circularity rate and enhance the competitiveness of its circular economy by 2030, the EFG underscores the pivotal role of geoscientific expertise in achieving these objectives. The upcoming Circular Economy Act represents a critical opportunity for the European Union to accelerate the transition towards a fully circular economy. To achieve the objectives set by the EU Green Deal and the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), the Circular Economy Act must enable the identification, valorisation, and safe use of secondary raw materials, including those contained in urban environments. Cities and their subsurface infrastructures represent significant untapped resources, yet effective recovery requires systematic geoscientific approaches. EFG's recommendations are highlighted in the enclosed file.
Read full responseResponse to European Water Resilience Strategy
3 Mar 2025
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) strongly supports the European Commissions proposed Water Resilience Strategy. Geologists play a vital role for sustainable development, supporting EU competitiveness and UN goals (EFG, 2024). In this capacity, EFG is available to provide expert advice to the European institutions through its Panel of Experts on Hydrogeology. Further details on EFG's recommendations are provided in the attached file.
Read full responseMeeting with Dario Nardella (Member of the European Parliament)
5 Feb 2025 · Discussion on the recognition of the geologist profession at the European level
Response to Single Market Strategy 2025
30 Jan 2025
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) aims to report on barriers geologists face in exercising their profession within the Single Market. Geologists play a vital role for sustainable development, supporting EU competitiveness and UN goals (EFG, 2024). Traditionally, the profession requires a high level of mobility. According to the EFG Employment Survey 2024, 22 % of respondents stay less than 4 years at the same place before relocating for work. 22% of those who regularly relocate move to other European countries and 29% at the international level. Mobility needs are expected to rise to compensate for skill shortages, as identified in the Draghi report. EFG advocates for the mutual recognition of qualifications and free movement across Europe since the 1990s and the European Geologist (EurGeol) title was established as a quality benchmark (Clifford, 2002, Fernández-Fuentes, 2020). However, the profession does not benefit from a harmonised regulation. The automatic recognition of professional qualifications (Directive 2005/36/EC) is not available to geologists, increasing administrative complexity. Geologists seeking to work in a different EU country must navigate the general system of recognition. However, this pathway is not available to recent graduates who enter the job market. In EU countries where the geology profession is not regulated, there exists a significant risk of individuals without appropriate qualifications practising as geologists. Unregulated practices can lead to substandard work, creating reputational risks for the profession and potential harm to the public and environment, putting at risk Europes competitiveness goals. On the other hand, when geologists seek employment across borders, they may encounter challenges in obtaining de facto recognition of their qualifications, creating hurdles for highly skilled professionals (Clifford, 2002). This underscores the need for the harmonisation of recognition processes across the EU, in line with the 2024 Letta report which called for academic and professional recognition to be expedited. Finally, members of the EFG community also experience difficulties regarding the taxation for cross-border commuting or short-term contracts. EFG calls for the following: - Update Directive 2005/36/EC: Enhance the mobility of geologists to fill skill gaps and boost competitiveness by including the Geologist profession in Directive 2005/36/EC, ensuring automatic recognition of qualifications. Based on its long-standing existence as a voluntary professional card, and demonstrated mobility needs, the EurGeol title should be formalised as an official European Professional Card to accelerate cross-border skills deployment. - Ensure safety, security, and sustainability: Implement rigorous ethical, environmental, and professional standards for geologists, using recognised diploma levels and certifications like EurGeol as a benchmark under EU directives (CRMA, NZIA, Soil Health Act). - Invest in geology education: Strengthen education from the tertiary level to Lifelong Learning (LLL) through targeted public funding, supported by applied research partnerships with industry, to ensure Europes workforce is equipped with the skills needed to meet competitiveness objectives. EFG stands ready to work with the European institutions to ensure timely and effective translation of European policies into national action: - Common Training Framework: EFG can act facilitate the development of a Common Training Framework (CTF) for geologists as recommended in exchanges with DG GROW, using outcomes of the EuroAges project, an EQF pilot which defined learning outcomes for the 1st, 2nd and 4th qualification level. - EurGeol Expert Database: The title guarantees the highest professional standards, ensuring that expertise can be mobilised where needed. - EFG Academy: EFG and our members academies offer training for evolving market needs, supporting LLL in line with the CTF.
Read full responseResponse to Soil Health Law – protecting, sustainably managing and restoring EU soils
20 Oct 2023
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) represents 28 national professional associations across the continent. Its primary role is to safeguard and promote the interests of the geological profession, advocating for the best technical, scientific, and ethical practices while promoting sustainable and responsible use of the Earths resources. It accomplishes this through participation in EU-funded research projects, international networks and events, the provision of recognised titles to individual geologists, and a wide range of outreach activities. Soils play an indispensable role in supporting life, regulating water resources, and contributing to agricultural productivity to provide food. Recognising the pivotal significance of soil health, the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) presents a comprehensive blueprint in support of the forthcoming Soil Health Act to be implemented by the European Union. This framework underscores the paramount importance of continuous monitoring, robust data integration, transparency, and the incorporation of geological insights. It advocates for an enlightened approach to research and knowledge sharing, promoting sustainable soil management practices, and addressing soil contamination and remediation, water retention, and urban soil challenges. Moreover, it emphasises collaboration, the alignment of policies, awareness, and international cooperation to safeguard soil health.
Read full responseResponse to Carbon capture utilisation and storage deployment
31 Aug 2023
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) represents 28 national professional associations across the continent. Its primary role is to safeguard and promote the interests of the geological profession, advocating for the best technical, scientific, and ethical practices while promoting sustainable and responsible use of the Earths resources. Point 1 We have identified several themes within the pending initiative where we would like to provide some specific recommendations: - Opportunities to store carbon dioxide safely in depleted gas fields are being lost because European governments are failing to halt decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure. The decommissioning of the Kinsale Head Gasfield (KHGF) in Ireland is one example. - The EC should make each state responsible for identifying and maintaining CO2 storage potential within their jurisdiction where it exists in the interests of all members of the EU. - Use the know-how of well-standing industries. EC should facilitate the conversion of old industrial projects into more clean solutions e.g., depleted fields of O&G to be converted into CO2 sinks. - It is virtually impossible to achieve the net zero target without CCS. CO2 capture and storage should become a regular practice around European industrial areas. - Speed up administrative procedures to incorporate cleaner solutions such as hydrogen into European legislation. Point 2 We would like to highlight the central role of a dedicated public relations effort to support any strategy should play, explaining: Imperative of CCUS to honour the EU and wider continents commitments in the Paris Climate Agreement alongside efforts in decarbonising energy supply and greater efficiency. The respective roles of the different CCUS techniques available from capture to the short and longer term solutions available. Deep geological storage represents the only viable, effective, long-term solution and it is being pursued by a range of users at all scales (not just fossil fuel energy companies). While new players may come into the market, the fastest, safest and most cost-effective way to deploy this complex, high-risk, solution is to repurpose the model of existing energy companies. All energy sources produce GHG emissions to some degree or other, as well as significant hard-to-abate industries such as steel and cement production: CCUS can be applied in all cases. CCUS can provide an industrial scale solution within a decade providing suitable market incentives are provided: Public sector stimulus to begin, but ultimately carbon price support, decommissioning cost offset, ease of CO2 transport legislation. Point 3 Alongside our strong support for the importance of deep carbon sequestration for achieving decarbonisation goals, we would also like to emphasise vital need for reducing methane emissions through verifiable carbon management plans. Such a plan should specify how: 1. Leakage is going to be reduced within a short time-frame. 2. Productive use to made of oil-associated gas for electrification or export. 3. Robust and systematic methane emission monitoring will be carried out. Point 4 Geology forms a critical component of carbon management. However, the forthcoming shrinkage of the petroleum industry in Europe and current perception of this legacy industry is already negatively affecting the pipeline of young people wishing to study geology. We would therefore highlight the need to adequately allocate resources to educate professionals on carbon storage as a prospective green industrial sector, to avoid the real risk of an insufficient talent pipeline and skills pool for what could be a multi-Bn business activity in Europe.
Read full responseResponse to Net Zero Industry Act
26 Jun 2023
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) represents 28 national professional associations across the continent. Its primary role is to safeguard and promote the interests of the geological profession, advocating for the best technical, scientific, and ethical practices while promoting sustainable and responsible use of the Earths resources. The proposed Act aims to promote and achieve carbon neutrality across industries in which geologists expertise plays a crucial role, as follows: - Assess the feasibility of and ultimately deliver low-carbon energy resources from geothermal energy and natural hydrogen. - Identify, assess risks, and mitigate sites for the ultra-long-term secure storage of carbon dioxide through Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies (CCS). - Identify and manage suitable locations and facilities for underground storage of key net-zero gases, such as hydrogen gas, compressed air, and ongoing legacy natural gas management. - Identify suitable locations for renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind farms, tidal/wave energy, and solar. - Promote sustainable extraction and recycling of minerals required for clean energy technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels, EV batteries, electrification, geothermal energy, and energy storage. EFG has identified several themes within the pending legislation where we would like to provide some specific recommendations.
Read full responseResponse to European Critical Raw Materials Act
8 Jun 2023
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) is a not‐for‐profit organisation instituted to ensure competent and ethical practice among geoscientists in Europe while representing the profession across the continent. As such, we have identified three themes within the pending legislation that we believe should be revised. These themes are addressed in the attachment, in priority order for EFG. We thank the Commission for the opportunity to comment and participate in the legislative process.
Read full responseResponse to European Critical Raw Materials Act
10 Nov 2022
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) supports the Commission's initiative and wishes to make a series of observations and recommendations. Details are provided in the attached document.
Read full responseResponse to Education for environmental sustainability
11 May 2021
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) Panel of Experts on Education welcomes and supports the importance of the initiative of the European Commission on Education for Environmental Sustainability.
The full text can be consulted in the document attached.
Read full response