In the framework of the proposed Programme “Global Geoparks of UNESCO”, it took place on the 22^nd and 23^rd of May 2015, in Arouca Global Geopark, Portugal, the technical meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of Europe and North America (Group 1), organized by the Portuguese National Commission for UNESCO.

This meeting follows the work done by the Working Group composed by Member States, representatives of the Global Geopark Network and by members of the UNESCO Secretariat, created by the Director General of UNESCO. This Working Group defined the operational guidelines and the status of the Programme that have now been recommended by the Executive Board at its 195^th session to 2015 General Conference of UNESCO, for approval.

The proposed Programme also considers the important role of the National Commissions for UNESCO during the process of evaluation of new applications to geoparks and revalidations. Therefore, the purpose of having a technical meeting of NatCom’s on this subject, was to discuss this new role and to create a more structured information about NatComs’s collaboration in this field, providing relevant contributions to the UNESCO Programme and to strength links between UNESCO and the Global Geoparks Network and especially, at a national level, with all partners involved in the presentation of new candidatures, including National Fora of Geoparks/ National Committees for Geoparks.