It was with deep sadness that we learned of the death early last week of Bjarne Norup, Denmark's national focal point representative to EEA's European environment information and observation network (Eionet), after a short illness.

Bjarne worked closely with the Agency from the early days, helping to develop the European environmental information and observation network firstly as a network of people then as an electronic network to facilitate the provision, access, use and streamlining of information relevant for Europe's environment. He was one of the most active and enthusiastic national focal points who provided a pivotal role in the development of the national focal point group as well as the concepts and tools that underpin the electronic network. He will be remembered by EEA staff, national focal points and other members of the network for his warmth, humour, sincerity, sound advice, practical scepticism, determination and vision - a unique set of qualities from which we all benefited.

The Agency was represented at the funeral service in Silkeborg church on 7 January by Gordon McInnes, Bert Jansen and Jan Bliki. They were accompanied by Hannu Saarenmaa - former EEA staff, now with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility - who worked with Bjarne in the initial development of the network. Also present at the service was Ebbe Kvist from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, a close friend and colleague of Bjarne as Swedish national focal point. We were all able to give our condolences to Bjarne's widow Ester and his family as well as his colleagues from the National Environmental Research Institute on behalf of the Agency and the network. Bjarne will be missed by all.