1. IGST 12 – August 2007 – St Johns EURO-ARGO A new European Infrastructure for Research

2. IGST 12 – August 2007 – St Johns EURO-ARGO  Context: ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures) (European Commission). Roadmap for new large research infrastructures of pan-European interest.  Euro-Argo selected (35 projects – 7 environment sciences). Funding for a preparatory phase.  Proposal : Europe establishes an infrastructure for ¼, i.e. 800 floats in operation oRequirement : 250 floats per year including regional enhancements (Nordic, Mediterranean and Black seas)

3. IGST 12 – August 2007 – St Johns EURO-ARGO : European contribution to a global ocean observatory  A significant component of the global array of 3.000 floats in operations  Requires strong international cooperation  Proposal : Europe establishes an infrastructure for ¼, i.e. 800 floats in operation oRequirement : 250 floats per year including regional enhancements (Nordic seas, Mediterranean) (about 50 floats for regional enhancements)

4. IGST 12 – August 2007 – St Johns Preparatory Phase 2008-2010 Main expected outcomes : Agreement for long term (10-20 years) operation of Euro-Argo (financial, legal, governance, organisation, technical). Member States (ministerial level) Agreement with EC (GMES, GEO, DG Research) for additional long term EC funding Main technical and organizational issues to be solved Links with international structure

5. IGST 12 – August 2007 – St Johns

6. PP partnership France: IFREMER (representing the multi-agency Coriolis project) + SHOM Germany: BSH (for operational funding) + Konsortium Deutsche Meeresforschung (KDM) UK : Met Office and NERC. Netherlands: KNMI Spain: IEO Italy: OGS Ireland: Marine Institute Norway : IMR Portugal : UL Greece : HCMR Poland : IOS Bulgaria : USO