Being a facilitator of scientific activities in the Polar Regions and and having a European-wide view upon these activities, the European Polar Board identified topics that are of main interest to foster scientific perspectives in the Arctic and Antarctic.

*European Polar Research Programmes - Launching joint programmes such as PolarCLIMATE and future research opportunities 

*ERICON AURORA BOREALIS - development of a long term European plan for arctic global change research and proposals for a new dedicated European research icebreaker   

*Research Infrastructures - European Nations control a significant proportion of medium to large scale research infrastructures in the Arctic and Antarctic. There is a large number of Terrestrial stations including the cluster of facilities on Svalbard in the Arctic and throughout the Antarctic peninsula and plateau. There is a trend towards maximizing the impact of research activities into the efficient sharing of resources and infrastructure. Europe operates a suite of world leading polar class research Ice breakers and ice strengthened oceanographic research vessels. A new Air support network for the Antarctic has recently been established. The European Polar Board recognizes the need to influence European and National funding agencies to support the creation of new Polar research infrastructures and to manage the efficient use of existing facilities to enhance scientific deliverables and provide timely and reliable science advice to European governments.

*International cooperation - The European Polar Board promotes Science and technology cooperation in the Polar regions with its international partners. A dialogue with the managers of the United States Office of Polar Programs and European Polar Agency concentrating on areas of mutual scientific and logistical interest has been initiated. An unprecedented level of multilateral cooperation resulted from the planning and implementation of the International Polar Year 2007/08. European Nations played an important role in this process. New areas of polar science such as Astronomy and Astrophysics have been supported through international workshops and development of a task-force from Europe, the US and Australia. A multinational consortium is being planned to construct a state of the art Research Icebreaker with a deep drilling capability for the central Arctic. The European Polar Board is also leading the way in the establishment of a Southern Ocean scientific committee to focus on understanding circulation and carbon fluxes in this critical area.

*Science Policy - The European Polar Board established a high-level European Strategic framework for science and operational capabilities in the Polar Regions (EUROPOLAR). The elements include a Research Icebreaker capability for the high-Arctic; An intercontinental Polar Air Support network; new European led terrestrial research facilities such as CONCORDIA station and space/ground based observational and monitoring capacities for the Polar Regions.