The ESP Steering Committee report summarizes the current composition and activities of the ESP Steering Committee. Elena Havlicek chairs the committee, which includes vice-chairs and representatives from various organizations. The committee has met in 2017 and 2018 to discuss priorities, contributions to other initiatives, and upcoming conferences. Key activities include maintaining the ESP webpage, developing a European network of soil networks, contributing to conferences, and seeking to establish a soil panel for European Research Council grants.

2. ESP Steering Committee Report
Elena Havlicek and Marc Van Liedekerke
Chair Elena Havlicek (FOEN, Switzerland)
Vice-chairs Hakki Erdogan (MAAF, Turkey)
Carmelo Dazzi (University of Palermo, Italy)
ESP-secretariat Marc Van Liedekerke (European Commission)
GSP-secretariat Representative of the GSP secretariat (Ronald Vargas)
Pillar 1 Chair Violette Geissen (Wageningen University, The Netherlands)
Pillar 2 Chair Arwyn Jones (European Commission)
Pillar 3 Chair Coen Ritsema (Wageningen University, The Netherlands)
Pillar 4 Chair Edoardo Costantini (CREA, Italy)
Pillar 5 Chair Hakki Erdogan (MAAF, Turkey)
EASP representative Pavel Krasilnikov (ECFS, Russia)
ITPS representative Luca Montanarella (European Commission)
DG ENV representative Josiane Masson (European Commission)
CURRENT COMPOSITION OF THE ESP STEERING COMMITTEE

3. ESP Steering Committee Report
Elena Havlicek and Marc Van Liedekerke
MEETINGS
 22 June 2017 (Rome)
Steering Committee with guests (A. Benedetti FP Italy; C. Hartmann IRD France)
Main objectives: IP, pillars priority actions, contribution to GSP activities
 31 January 2018 (Brussels)
Steering Committee with guests (E. Goidts SNOWMAN, B. Vrscaj Links4Soils, S.
Chovancova DG ENV)
Main objectives: current state, interaction with INSPIRATION, Alpine Soil Partnership,
Plenary Meeting preparation
 Conferences (UNCCD COP13 in Ordos, SETAC Europe in Brussels Soil Stakeholder
Conference in Brussel, NRC Soil in Copenhagen, …)
PROGRESS REPORT OF THE ESP STEERING COMMITTEE

4. ESP Steering Committee Report
Elena Havlicek and Marc Van Liedekerke
ACTIVITIES
 Maintenance of the ESDAC ESP webpage / Administrative matters
Development of an European network of networks
Mapping of relevant projects, soil institutions, networks and organizations
(see Pillar 1)
Cooperation with sub-regional or local activities (see Agenda points 4 and 5)
PROGRESS REPORT OF THE ESP STEERING COMMITTEE

5. ESP Steering Committee Report
Elena Havlicek and Marc Van Liedekerke
ACTIVITIES
European Research Council
Establishment of an ERC panel dedicated to soil science (work in progress)
Main objective: support early career soil scientists when applying for ERC grants
 ESP contribution to GSOP18 (see Agenda point 4.4)
Cooperation with ECSSS and EUROSOIL2020 (see Agenda point 5.6)
WCSS 21
ESP presentation
PROGRESS REPORT OF THE ESP STEERING COMMITTEE

6. ESP Steering Committee Report
Elena Havlicek and Marc Van Liedekerke
ACTIVITIES
Mobilization of resources (not completed)
Involvement of national FP and members of Pillars WG
 Organization of a meeting with existing networks (not completed)
PROGRESS REPORT OF THE ESP STEERING COMMITTEE