The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) has issued a formal response to the Antwerp Declaration, reaffirming the central role of geoscience expertise in securing Europe’s industrial future. Representing 50,000 geoscientists across Europe, the EFG welcomes the Declaration’s renewed focus on industrial competitiveness and highlights that a strong and resilient European industry starts beneath our feet.
The Antwerp Declaration, presented on 11 February 2026 by more than 1,300 companies from across industrial sectors, calls for bold policy action to address the high energy costs, unfair global competition, and regulatory burdens threatening European industry. The EFG fully supports this call and emphasises that the expertise of European geologists is essential to tackling these challenges head-on.
The geosciences sector already contributes over €200 billion annually to the EU’s GDP. Geologists are at the forefront of securing critical raw materials by reducing Europe’s import dependency and strengthening supply chains for the green and digital transition. They are equally central to reducing energy costs through the development of geothermal energy and the geological storage of CO₂ and hydrogen, and to driving innovation and resilience through sustainable water resource management, geological risk assessment, and circular economy technologies.
As EFG President David Govoni stated: “Europe’s industrial competitiveness is intrinsically linked to our ability to sustainably manage the vast resources found in our subsurface. From the critical raw materials that power our clean technologies to the potential of geothermal energy and geological carbon storage, geologists are at the forefront of building a safer, cleaner, and more competitive European industry. Europe cannot decarbonise, digitalise, or defend its industrial base without a solid geological foundation.”
The EFG urges EU leaders to fully integrate geoscience expertise into the development and implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal and the Emergency Industrial Policy Measures requested in the Antwerp Declaration. This includes creating a mobile and qualified European professional workforce, certifying competence through common standards, strengthening national geological surveys and professional bodies, and investing in geoscience education, training, research, and innovation.
EFG’s full press release in response to the Antwerp Declaration is available here: https://eurogeologists.eu/go/efg-2026-response-antwerp-declaration
