This report summarises the key outcomes from the Shaping EU Missions: bridging the gap between geoscience and policy event the EGU hosted in Brussels, Belgium on 17 October 2019. The document summarises the three key areas that the nearly 70 participating policymakers and geoscientists highlighted as ways the EU mission boards could improve their final outcomes. These include clarifying how the missions will function; using scientific evidence as well as public interest to steer the missions to ensure the most societally critical issues are addressed; and encouraging coordination within the missions and between existing EU-funded projects. This report also addresses specific issues related to each of the most science-relevant mission board themes.

The European Geosciences Union is the leading organisation for Earth, planetary and space science research in Europe. With our partner organisations worldwide, we foster fundamental geoscience research, alongside applied research that addresses key societal and environmental challenges. Our vision is to realise a sustainable and just future for humanity and for the planet. EGU’s 20,000 members span many key scientific areas that can enhance the policy-making process including, but not limited to, natural hazards, energy resources, climate change, soil science, and raw-material sourcing.

The EGU promotes science for policy activities on a European scale to encourage stronger science-policy partnerships, inform geoscientists about relevant policy opportunities, and highlight policy-relevant research to both the public and policymakers. The EGU also publishes a number of open access journals and organises the largest and most prominent European geosciences event, an annual General Assembly that more than 16,000 scientists attend.

• Report: Shaping EU Missions: bridging the gap between geoscience and policy
• Shaping EU Missions