Date: 3 April 2025
Venue: Brussels, Belgium and Online
Hosts: Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and Institute of Natural Sciences
The Board re-elected Martin Pfannkuchen (IRB, Croatia) for a second two-year term, and elected Patrizio Mariani (DTU-AQUA, Denmark) and Henning Wehde (IMR, Norway) as new EMB vice-Chairs for initial terms of three years. The Board discussed the ongoing operations of EMB, and provided direction for its future activities.
The Board received an update on the activities of the current EMB Young Ambassadors and were introduced to the newly elected Ambassadors for 2025-2027.
In terms of science activities, the Board received updates on the ongoing working groups on Deep Sea and Ocean Health, which will be launched on 11 April 2025, and Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal. The Terms of Reference for a new EMB Working Group on biomolecular approaches were approved, and the Board also voted to select a new EMB topic. The Board also received copies of the new EMB Policy Briefs on coastal resilience and Navigating the Future VI, and discussed the recent 9th EMB Forum.
An update was also given regarding EMB's engagement in ongoing H2020 / Horizon Europe projects EcoScope, BRIDGE-BS, RHE-mediation, BAMBOO and SURIMI, as well as the EMODnet tender, the recently completed ERASMUS+ project FLORES and the DG MARE/CINEA tender Towards IPOS.
The Board received an update on EMB's support of the Ocean Decade as an Implementing Partner, as well as EMB's support of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and waters. In particular, the Board were introduced to the new EMBracing the Ocean artists-in-residence for 2025-2026.
Finally, the Board heard about the recent EMB interactions with EU Commissioners, and in particular the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis.
Due to the 9th EMB Forum being held back-to-back with the plenary meeting, there was no open session.
