On 21 May 2025, a major initiative to strengthen sustainable resource management across Europe was officially launched in Nova Gorica: International Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Resource Management for Europe (ICE-SRM EU). The Centre, based in Slovenia, is established within the framework of the project Geological Survey for Europe (GSEU)funded by the Horizon Europe programme, and will act as a pan-European network focusing on responsible resource use and policy alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative is led by the Association of Geological Surveys (AGS). EuroGeoSurveys (EEC), and the centre is managed by the GeoZS.

The event took place in Nova Gorica, which shares the title of this year's cross-border European Capital of Culture with Gorizia, Italy, symbolising the cross-border cooperation and the global orientation of the centre. The event was opened by Only Turel, Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica, who welcomed the participants and expressed his support for the mission of the Centre.

The EU ICE-SRM will play a strategic role in building capacity and coordinating best practices for resource classification and management across Europe. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting the implementation of the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS), which are key tools for aligning Europe's raw materials policies with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

In particular, the Centre will support the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Regulation by providing technical expertise for transparent and harmonised reporting of data on sources. The EU ICE-SRM is designed to serve all stakeholders - from the EU to national and regional governments, policy makers, geological institutions and industry partners.

Julie Hollis, Secretary General of EuroGeoSurveys, said that the launch of the ICE-SRM EU demonstrates the strategic value of coordinated geological expertise at European level. "The establishment of the ICE-SRM EU shows what can be achieved when European geological expertise is aligned with policy priorities and societal needs. This clearly confirms the need for a long-term and sustainably funded Geological Survey for Europe, capable of delivering lasting impacts."

"The Geological Survey of Slovenia took on the task of establishing this centre because it has good experience in resource management at national level. The strength and advantage of the Centre, which allows us to act quickly and respond to European requirements, is the network of competent partners with a strong network of experts and stakeholders." in his introductory remarks Miloš Bavec, Director of GeoZS.

Meta Dobnikar, Head of the Department of Mineral Resources and Geochemistry at GeoZS, presented the vision and objectives of the EU ICE-SRM, highlighting how the Centre will contribute to strengthening the European Union's capacity in the field of critical raw materials by integrating natural resource data and promoting scientific cooperation.

Welcoming speeches and panel discussion were also given by the representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Mr. Dario Liguti, the European Commission - Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry and Entrepreneurship (DG GROW) Mr. Robert Tomas, the Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (MVZI) Ms. Tanja Vertelj.

Dario Liguti UNECE, in discussing the role of the Centre, stressed that "Decisions taken in Brussels and implemented in countries like Slovenia set the standard for EU global action, especially in the field of critical raw materials. The role of this Centre goes beyond Europe - it will also act as a knowledge transfer hub on sustainable resource management to countries outside the EU, in line with UN methodologies and EU rules on trade, manufacturing and economic relations. Given the EU's strategic position as a major importer and global economic player, the Centre will play a key role in promoting international cooperation and implementing the EU Regulation on critical raw materials."

"The role of the Centre is to actively contribute to the development of national guidelines for resource management using the UNFC classification. Tailored guidelines are essential to harmonise different classification systems and support effective, data and knowledge-based policies across the EU." summarised the role of the Centre Robert Tomas, representative of DG GROW.

At the end of the debate Tanja Vertelj from the IGCCI: "Like my interlocutors, I recognise the major geopolitical challenges we face, including issues of sustainability, competitiveness and security. While these are all key factors, I believe that we should put more emphasis on evidence-based policy making - both at national and global level. Without this, policy decisions are of lower quality and less effective. Centres of excellence like this are not only valuable for scientific progress, but also play an important role in supporting better policy-making."

Among the Centre's activities is the creation of an online Knowledge Hub, which is expected to be launched by the end of this year. The platform will serve as a focal point for access to information, training, a network of experts and best practices in the field of sustainable resource management, further strengthening the role of the EU ICE-SRM as a catalyst for knowledge sharing and capacity building across Europe.