The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) initiative is building a globally accessible
DNA-based system for species identification and discovery. This paper outlines the
mission and strategic priorities for the iBOL community in Europe (iBOL Europe), set
in a global context. The mission of iBOL Europe is to produce, curate, and provide
access to a complete DNA barcode reference library of European eukaryotic biodiversity,
catalyzing species discovery and enabling comprehensive, harmonized species identification
and biomonitoring, and supporting the global iBOL program. Immediate objectives include
completing reference libraries for priority taxa, democratizing access to sequencing
technologies, and strengthening a distributed community of practice. Key actions identified
span five thematic areas: community building, sample collection and taxonomic verification,
sequencing infrastructure, data management, and mainstreaming DNA-based approaches
to meet societal needs. The strategy emphasizes integration with European research
infrastructures to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience for biodiversity
genomics in Europe.
