Brussels was the venue for EFGS 2026, a crucial European event focused on geographic information. Co-organized by Statbel and the NGI (National Geographic Institute), this three-day gathering saw European experts from the statistical and geographic sectors discuss current and future challenges.
In the face of challenges like climate change, inequality, urbanization, public health, and food security, all with a strong geographic dimension, cross-referencing statistical and spatial data is essential. This approach helps to better identify vulnerabilities, track changes, and inform public decisions. In Belgium, the collaboration between the NGI and Statbel strengthens this synergy, offering a more precise picture of territorial and societal realities.
During the gala evening, Ingrid Vanden Berghe presented the Lars H. Backer award, recognizing advancements in this field. Earlier, she had delivered the opening speech for the high-level day alongside representatives from Statbel, Eurostat, and the EFGS, and participated in a 'Fireside chat' discussion on the roadmap towards a geo-enabled future.
The closing discussion, a 'Fireside chat', featured Ingrid Vanden Berghe, Marie Vandresse (Statbel), Jack Hamande (Director-General of the Crisis Centre), and Luc Bas (Director of the Belgian Climate Risk Assessment Center) summarizing key takeaways. They highlighted common challenges, new opportunities, and priorities for better data integration, aiming to enhance resilience and targeted action through geographic and statistical information.
Data integration helps reveal regional, urban, or population disparities often hidden in aggregated statistics. Discussions also emphasized that this integration relies not only on technology but also on a clear vision, strong leadership, robust governance, and inter-institutional collaboration.
On October 2nd, Johannes Van Geertsom, International Coordinator of the NGI, presented the new work plan for UN-GGIM: Europe until 2030, reaffirming the ambition to strengthen European cooperation for a safer and more sustainable world. The 'Data in Response to Global Agendas' priority highlights geospatial and statistical data as a strategic lever for global and European development programs.
The pre-conference, held on September 30th, included participation from four experts from the NGI's PM/Broker Service. Rink Kruk presented uniform and shared geospatial capabilities for emergency services, Julien Martineau outlined the methodology for assessing flood exposure, and Annie Royen and Floor Van Damme illustrated how federal partners share their geospatial data via geo.be.
The future of geospatial statistics is to be built jointly. Public institutions must foster collaborations, share expertise, and invest in interoperability. The EFGS forum plays a vital role in bringing stakeholders together for dialogue and reflection.
