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European Environment Agency (EEA) and the EIONET

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an agency of the European Union.  It gathers data and produces assessments on a wide range of topics related to the environment. It does so in close cooperation with its extensive partnership network, the European Environmental Information and Observation Network, known as the Eionet.

Through the Eionet, the EEA has been providing data and information about Europe’s environment and climate to European citizens and policy makers since 1994. The Eionet connects hundreds of institutions and around 2000 experts from 38 member and cooperating countries. Ireland is an active member of the Eionet.

New: EEA invitation - Become a Topic Centre organisation

The European Environment Agency (EEA) invites research communities to register their interest in being designated as a Topic Centre organisation in the period 2027–2030. EEA wishes to identify individual organisations that carry out scientific and/or technical support tasks in one or more of the Agency's priority areas of work and that can cooperate with the EEA as part of the Eionet network. Ireland is participating among a number of European countries in a pilot phase to test a new model approved in June 2025. For more information about the background and application criteria, see the document on the launch page:

Become a Topic Centre organisation and engage with the EEA | Procurement and grants | European Environment Agency (EEA)

Application Process: 

If you wish to register your interest, the application with the necessary documentation must be submitted by 31 October 2025 at 14:00 (CET). 

  1. Before submission, you must assess whether you meet the applicable criteria for participation. View the link to the guidelines:
    Guideline to prospective topic centre organisations | Become a Topic Centre organisation and engage with the EEA | European Environment Agency (EEA)
  2. Then let nfp@epa.ie  know that you are interested, confirm that the criteria for participation are met and provide the contact person for your organisation.
  3. You will then have access to the digital registration tool. Note that this tool is the only channel for submitting documentation. 

 

Cover image for Ireland's Eionet Network Brochure
Eionet Ireland Brochure cover

Link to Eionet Ireland Network Brochure 2025

National Focal Points 

National Focal Points (NFPs) are the primary national contact points in the Eionet and the EEA works closely with them.  Typically based in a national environment agency or environment ministry, an NFP is appointed by their EEA member country. 

The Environmental Protection Agency acts as the NFP for Ireland, coordinating environmental information exchange with the EEA and others.  In its NFP role, the EPA maintains and develops the national network. It also facilitates and coordinates contacts, requests and deliveries between national and EU level.

Eionet core data flows and National Data Flow Coordinators

The provision of high-quality data by the Eionet is fundamental to the EEA achieving its mission to deliver data and knowledge in support of Europe's environment and climate ambitions. Data is reported by EEA member countries through the EIONET in a variety of areas.  These include air emissions and quality, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, industrial pollution and water. This core data is used by the EEA for its main assessments, products and services. 

The EPA is also the designated National Data Flow Coordinator for Ireland and oversees the submission of high-quality environmental data to the Eionet.

Country visit by the European Environment Agency to Eionet Ireland, October 2024 

On 17 October 2024, the EPA's NFP Team hosted an information exchange event in Dublin at which representatives of the European Environment Agency met with Eionet Ireland members.  Leena Ylä-Mononen, the Executive Director, of the European Environment Agency and Brian MacSharry, the Head of Group, Nature and Biodiversity, at the European Environment Agency informed participants about recent and upcoming EEA publications, the general work of the EEA and the wider EIONET network.  Members of Eionet Ireland presented on related Irish work and together, participants explored the potential synergies and added value to be gained from engagement with Eionet.

Links to the presentations made at the Eionet Ireland event are available below.

Presentation Organisation 
Eionet Ireland Network - National Focal Point Ireland Environmental Protection Agency 
EEA-Eionet supporting the European Green Deal and beyond environmental knowledge and systemic approaches European Environment Agency 
EEA's perspective on recent EU environmental policy European Environment Agency 
EPA Environment and Health Activities Environmental Protection Agency
LIFE Emerald overview  Environmental Protection Agency
Climate change in the Irish mind Environmental Protection Agency
Earth observation for land-use policy Teagasc
Ecosystems accounts Central Statistics Office
Food Systems: Food Vision Dashboard Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine
Learn more about the EEA and Eionet