The ENFORCE consortium convened its 2nd General Assembly in Heraklion, Crete, for a three-day working meeting that signified the project’s progression from the planning phase to implementation. Partners from across Europe reviewed advancements related to the ENFORCE Plaza platform, Living Labs, legal frameworks, and case studies, including the Themis App in Crete as well as enforcement activities in Italy and Flanders.

As the Scientific Coordinator, Professor Chrysi Laspidou emphasized the consortium’s scientific rigor and civic engagement. She expressed satisfaction in observing the emergence of a dynamic group committed to advancing environmental compliance through the integration of remote sensing and citizen science data. Furthermore, she underscored that ENFORCE has reached a stage where it can transition from internal co-creation to external implementation.

In her closing remarks, she emphasized that the consortium’s achievements should not remain insular.

‘The consortium has established a robust and resilient community. The task before us is to expand this community—systematically and responsibly—to encompass broader audiences and adjacent networks that can utilize and test what we are creating.’

The Assembly also addressed ethics and regulation—including the GDPR, the Data Act, the Data Governance Act, and the AI Act—considering them as integral design parameters rather than as afterthoughts, to ensure that ENFORCE outputs remain durable and compliant beyond the project’s duration.

Professor Laspidou concluded that ENFORCE has left Heraklion with a clearer sense of direction and increased responsibility. The forthcoming phase involves not only the development of tools but also ensuring their adoption by the relevant authorities, civic actors, and communities they are intended to serve.

Stay tuned for updates and read more about ENFORCE on the official website and the LinkedIn page.