As President of EUROGI, on behalf of all our members representing most of the national GI associations of the European Union, the European Free Trade area and a number of Pan European GI Associations welcome all of you most warmly to this meeting in Germany under the patronage of Dr Martin Bangemann - member of the European Commission. I also wish to thank all those that have made this event possible and in particular our German member DDGI and their President Dr Klaus Barwinski.
This meeting is one in a series that have been organised around the world over recent years, but it is by far the most comprehensive and all embracing, to explore common themes, share experiences and to work toward the ultimate establishment in those areas where it is sensible to do so of a Global Infrastructure.
Europe like many regions of the world is struggling to address the problems of how to overcome the constraints in producing and using Geographic Information and to begin building the necessary infrastructure to allow this to happen. Wherever we are in the world, whatever our background, culture, state of economic development, the problems that face us are similar. They may differ in degree but that is all and most unfortunately are not technical in nature which are often easier to find solutions to.
The application of GI and its associated technologies are multi-disciplinary and impact horizontally across society. As such they present different problems, the solutions to which will task our ingenuity.
Europe has much to offer. We have already had to come to grips with the complexities of national cultures, political aspirations, language barriers and the principles of subsidiarity. However there is a growing realisation that many of todays problems have to be tackled on a regional basis and this also true of the information necessary to support decision processes. Many problems are no respectors of historical or political boundaries. We have many precedents for this in Chernobyl, the Rhine Valley floods of last year, etc. Examples abound but not only at the grand scale, Trans Alpine, Baltic, etc, but also at the micro level. I could tell you many tales of the problems of the Northern Ireland - Republic of Ireland border and along the Dutch and Germany borders to name but a few.
I look forward now, with such a distinguished set of colleagues to two days, of intensive, stimulated and informed debate which I know will be rewarding for all of us. EUROGI is proud to be able to play a lead role in this process and to facilitate the achievement of progress for mutual benefit. Great statesmen on different continents including our own M. Delors have expounded their visions for the new Information Society. We must not disappoint them or the people of the world who should benefit from its establishment.