Become a Topic Centre organisation and engage with the EEA

About Topic Centres

Topic centres are a core part of the relationship between the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet). They act as a conduit for data and information flows, and analysis between the EU level and EEA member countries.

The Topic Centres support the EEA in carrying out several important tasks for managing the collection, verification, and assessment of environment and climate data that EU Member States report to the EEA under EU legislation and other requirements.

Background

As specified in the EEA-Eionet founding Regulation EEA member countries may identify the institutions or other organisations established in their territory which could be specifically entrusted with the task of cooperating with the EEA as regards certain topics of particular interest. As of January 2023, there are seven European Topic Centres working with the EEA and national Eionet partners on biodiversity and ecosystems; circular economy and resource use; climate adaptation and LULUCF; climate change mitigation; data integration and digitalisation; human health and the environment; and sustainability transitions.

The EEA Management Board has started the process towards the designation of new Topic Centre Organisations (TCOs) from 2027, seeking to ensure that the next generation of Topic Centres will be fit for purpose to support the EEA in the evolving policy and organisational landscape through to 2030.

To that end, a Management Board Advisory Committee was established to guide the new Topic Centre design process based on an EEA proposal for a three-step model consisting of:

1. Decentralised identification by Eionet representatives in EEA member countries based on defined eligibility criteria.
2. Simplified regular designation by the EEA Management Board without requiring pre-formed consortia.
3. Agile contracting whereby the EEA may use a broader mix of contractual arrangements, including performance-based models.

In June 2025, the EEA Management Board decided to initiate a first phase to test the proposed new design for the identification of TCOs. The process was completed successfully, and the proposed new design for Topic Centre designation has now been decided by the Management Board. The next call will open for all EEA member countries in the beginning of 2026.

How to become a Topic Centre organisation

If you are an institution or organisation established in one of the EEA member countries, you are eligible to participate in the upcoming designation phase. Updated information will be made available at the beginning of 2026.

Establishment cycle