Hosted by the Italian National Council of Geologists, the 86th Council Meeting of the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) was held in Naples, Italy, on 17 and 18 May 2025.
On 16 May, ahead of the EFG Spring Council Meeting, a guided geological tour was organised by the hosts in the Vesuvius National Park and in Pompeii. After this excursion, in the evening, the traditional EFG Wine Contest took place. National Associations were invited to bring wines from their countries, and the winner was Portugal (Portuguese Association of Geologists).
Guided tour in the Vesuvius National Park and Pompeii, picture by Luís Lopes
On 17 and 18 May, the EFG Board, Secretariat, and National Associations shared their activities implemented over the last months and discussed and planned upcoming activities.
In-person and online participants at the EFG Council Meeting on 17 May, picture by Tamás Miklovicz
Some of the key outcomes of the EFG Council Meeting are the following:
On 17 May, the elections for the EFG External Relations Officer took place. National Association Delegates cast their votes electronically. As a result, Arda Arcasoy, from the Turkish Association of Economic Geologists, was elected as the new EFG External Relations Officer.
Arda Arcasoy holds a B.Sc. MSc. and PhD. Degree in Geological Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. He has specialised in remote sensing and GIS solutions within the mining sector and for environmental applications. He has more than 30 years of experience in geology, mineral exploration, remote sensing, and GIS. He holds the EurGeol title and is also a Certified Professional Geologist by the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). Arda has been the EFG Turkish Delegate since 2016, and he has been working in the EFG Regulation Authority Committee for two years.
His election means the end of the term of Pavlos Tyrologou from the Association of Greek Geologists, who served as External Relations Officer from 2019 until 2025 and thus could not present himself for another term. The EFG Board, Members, and Secretariat thank Pavlos Tyrologou for his dedicated work and commitment throughout the past years and congratulate Arda on his election as EFG Board member.
In May 2025, the EFG Board decided to appoint Anita Stein as the new EFG Executive Director. This decision was communicated to Council during the meeting in Naples.
Anita Stein is a communications expert with cross-European experience, specialised in visual communications. She followed an interdisciplinary Bachelor programme in French-German studies and graduated with a Master’s degree in Compared Political Sciences. Based on her longstanding knowledge of EFG in different roles, Anita is currently supporting the Federation as the Interim Executive Director. She also continues to provide communication support in EFG’s EU-funded projects. Following a transition period until the end of June, Anita Stein will start in the new position in July 2025.
The updated Code of Ethics (Regulation C1) and the Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures (Regulation C2) were approved by the Council during this meeting. The promotion of best practices is a central element of EFG’s missions, and it is notably achieved through the promotion of the “Code of Ethics”, a guide that prescribes acceptable behaviour of each individual National Association member and all European Geologist title holders and establishes a common ground of principles that apply to all. By doing so, the code therefore provides a means of professional self-regulation, a necessary condition to guarantee the quality and the legitimacy of the work of Geologists.
The updated version of the Code of Ethics (C1) now also applies to EFG partners (including organisations in partnership agreements) and sponsors. The outdated version only applied to EFG members and European Geologist title-holders. In addition, plagiarism, the use of artificial intelligence tools, and publishing ethics are also included, and the application of the Code is extended to “in-person” meetings and events. Concerning the update of the Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures (C2), it now applies not only to EFG Members and European Geologists, but also explicitly to “in person” meetings and events, and to the actions of EFG partners. Both regulations have been subject to legal review to ensure compliance with relevant Belgian law. For further information, the EFG Statutes and Regulations are available at the following link: https://eurogeologists.eu/statutesregulations
In addition, during the Council Meeting, the new EFG Advisory Board has been established. As an integral component of EFG’s governance structure, the Advisory Board will provide strategic guidance, subject matter expertise, and support the Federation’s mission to promote excellence and sustainability in the geosciences across Europe and beyond. Members of the Advisory Board will work in close collaboration with the EFG Board and Secretariat to help shape the direction and outreach of the organisation. Further details about the Advisory Board’s structure and members will be disclosed soon.
Thanks to the hosts from the Italian National Council of Geologists, and to all the EFG’s National Associations who attended the 86th Council Meeting in Naples and online!
Some of the pictures below were kindly provided by Luís Lopes (Portuguese Association of Geologists):
