Regional Dialogue and launch of the European Subregional TSC for Biodiversity!

From 23 to 25 September 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, the European Union,  in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Med), and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS),  is hosting a Regional Dialogue for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) and for the 44 Parties covered by the new European Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre (TSC). This meeting is organized with the support of the CO-OP4CBD project.

This three-day event builds on the outcomes of CBD COP16, which calls for enhanced cooperation in planning, monitoring, reporting, and review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). The Dialogue will provide an opportunity for Parties and stakeholders to come together to share experiences in revising and implementing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), highlighting common challenges, innovative approaches, and practical lessons learned from across the region. Participants will also work together to identify capacity-building needs, including technical, institutional, and financial support required at the national level. This exchange is intended to foster regional cooperation and peer-to-peer learning, ultimately strengthening Global BF implementation.

A key milestone of the event will be the official launch of the European Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre (TSC). Hosted and coordinated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) through the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD), which brings together several services of the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA), and implemented in partnership with IUCN Med and RBINS, the TSC will support 44 countries in implementing the KM-GBF. Participants will be introduced to the TSC’s structure, planned activities, and services.

On the 24th, we will have the High-Level Opening Session featuring interventions from:

• Jihyun Lee, Deputy Executive Secretary, CBD

• Patrick Child, Deputy Director-General, DG ENV

• Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the EEA 

• Grethel Aguilar, Director-General, IUCN

• Alessandra Zampieri, Director, JRC (on site)

• Michel Van Camp, CEO of RBINS

followed by a roundtable discussion with participants including:

• Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director, DG ENV

• Stefano Signore, Director (Acting), DG INTPA

• Boris Erg, Director, IUCN Europe

• Philippe Tulkens, Head of Unit, DG RTD

• Country representatives.

At the heart of the TSC’s operational model is a network of Knowledge Hubs, each aligned with one of the KM-GBF’s 23 targets. The Dialogue will provide space to explore how these hubs function, the types of support they offer, and how they can be adapted to the specific needs of participating countries.

The event will serve as a platform to co-develop a shared roadmap for regional collaboration and inclusive stakeholder engagement. By bringing together national representatives, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, NGOs, and other key actors, the Dialogue aims to lay the groundwork for a more coordinated and participatory approach to biodiversity governance across Europe and beyond.

More details and latest documents about the meeting and links for online participation can be found here.