The European Polar Board (EPB) is Europe’s principle strategic forum for Science Policy Issues in the Arctic and Antarctic. The Board is a platform for European engagement in International Science programmes and provides strategic science policy advice to the European Commission and international bodies.

Through the development of an organisational framework EUROPOLAR, the European Polar Board seeks to harmonize and maximize the impact of European Polar Research in a global context. The European Polar Board is enhancing engagement and strategic dialogue on Science and technology issues with the U.S. and other international partners. It takes an influential role together with its partners in the planning and implementation of the International Polar Year 2007/08 and to the underpinning of European long term planning and scientific investigations in the Polar Regions.

Established in 1995, the European Polar Board, the European Science Foundation’s expert committee on Science Policy in the Polar Regions, acts as a voice and facilitator of cooperation between European National Funding Agencies, National Polar Institutes and research organisations.

The European Polar Board is concerned with major strategic priorities in the Arctic and Antarctic and has members from national operators and research Institutes in 19 Countries including pre-Accession countries to the EU and States outside the EU such as Russia.