The European Environment Agency ↗ (EEA) hosted the annual meeting on the Early Warning System (EWS) on 18–19 June 2025 in Copenhagen to advance the development to review progress, share case study results, and shape the roadmap for the years ahead.

Two pilot case studies were presented. The first focused on hazardous substances in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from German rivers, using non-target screening (NTS), effect-based monitoring (EBM), and effect-directed analysis (EDA). The second investigated food-safety relevant toxicants in fish tissue samples from Greece, applying similar methodologies.

Stakeholder perspectives were also shared based on a questionnaire circulated through national hubs. A total of 61 responses - mostly from government agencies - highlighted the need for more frequent EWS updates, an acceptance of moderate to high uncertainty in alerts, and a desire for broad health-related coverage.

The meeting included a demonstration of the first version of the EWS toolbox. Discussions focused on developing a modular, FAIR-compliant platform capable of running periodic processing cycles, generating alerts, and publishing results via an interactive web portal. Key requirements identified include streamlined data-upload mechanisms and automated ingestion of patent structures, NTS data, effect-based data, literature, and expert signals. A multi-criteria decision tree is planned to guide alert generation and user actions.

Next steps include expanding modelling tools for NTS, refining user interfaces for policymakers and researchers, and integrating additional case study results to identify and close methodological gaps. A dedicated stakeholder forum is scheduled for September 2025 to gather further input.

With key milestones and a deliverable planned through spring 2026, the Early Warning System is on track to provide timely, science-based alerts that enhance chemical safety across Europe.