EFGS 2015 European Forum for Geography and Statistics 2015 Conference Vienna, Austria, 10 – 12 November 2015 Welcome speech Janusz Dygaszewicz EFGS President Programming and Coordination of Statistical Surveys Department Director Central Statistical Office of Poland

WHAT IS THE EFGS Since1998 a network of experts – primarily working in European National Statistical Institutes (NSI). Mainly GIS specialists but also statisticians, researchers and employees of mapping authorities. Voluntary work done by devoted experts with visionary ideas.

EFGS ACTIVITIES The main goal - to promote the integration of statistical and geospatial information in public sector information and the use of GIS in NSIs; EFGS acts as a reference group for Eurostat and the project group for the GEOSTAT projects; In October this year we received the status of official Observer Organisation to UN-GGIM: Europe; Regularly produces strategy documents on various aspects regarding the integration of statistical and geospatial information;

EFGS WORK PROGRAM Creation of a point-based spatial reference framework for official statistics as the base for desimination of statistical data on grid; Partnership between NSI and NMCAs on equal terms; Increased participation of NMCAs and geospatial experts in the activities of the EFGS, e.g. in the EFGS conference; A fully geocoded census 2021; A truly object oriented statistical-geospatial information system for sustainable development ranging from local to global;

EFGS WORK PROGRAM the program is implemented through: works within projects: GEOSTAT 1 and 2 „Merging statistics and geospatial information in Member States” active participation in UN-GGIM and UN-GGIM: Europe sessions final version of the GEOSTAT 2011 population grid on the Eurostat website: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco/geodata/reference-data/population-distribution-demography The grid contains the total residential population on the date of the census 2011. With national data from 29 EU/ EFTA member states plus data from Kosovo and Albania, the GEOSTAT 1 project has by far exceeded all expectations

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EFGS AS A FORUM FOR KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE The lack of regular contacts and working relationships between NSIs and NMCAs is often a major obstacle for better understanding, cooperation and data sharing; The strength of the EFGS is willingness for networking and knowledge sharing (annual conferences, projects and website); UN-GGIM and NMCAs should take advantage of the professional network established by the EFGS in this important area of geospatial information management;

Initiator and co-founder of EFGS In memory of Lars Henrik Backer passed away on13th May 2015 Initiator and co-founder of EFGS EFGS executive director for many years Main target: the development of ‘Spaceship Earth’ Favourite motto: “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare”

Thank you for your attention Janusz Dygaszewicz EFGS President Programming and Coordination of Statistical Surveys Department Director Central Statistical Office of Poland