The project Steering Committee agreed on the activities to take place during 2014 in the frame of the project.

The first semester of the year was dedicated to (1) final works on the completion of the national Emerald databases, (2) possible remaining data gathering for species and habitats which requre more scientific research, (3) awareness-raising on the Emerald Network and its objectives at national level and (4) preparatory work on the launching of the biogeographical evaluation of the countries' site proposals, to be initiated in 2015.

One national event was organised in each of the target countries, aiming at analysing the currently proposed Emerald Network at national level and proposing areas for future work and action towards acheiving the project objectives:

1. National Emerald Seminar, Republic of Moldova: 7-8 April
2. National Emerald Seminar, Georgia: 24-25 April
3. National Emerald Seminar, Azerbaijan: 28-29 April
4. National Emerald Seminar, Ukraine: 19 May (on-line event)
5. National Emerald Seminar, Russian Federation: 12-14 May
6. National Emerald Seminar, Armenia: 5-6 June
7. National Emerald Seminar, Belarus: 5-6 June

The second semester of the year will be devoted to the organisation of preparatory biogeographical Seminars. They will be aimed at explaining and testing the methodology and criteria for the evaluation of the sufficiency of the sites proposals from the target countries to the national Emerald teams, the national authorities and the NGOs. The indicative dates for these Seminars are the following:

1. Emerald preparatory biogeographical Seminar for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Tbilissi, 14-15 October 2014
2. Emerald preparatory biogeographical Seminar for Belarus, Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Chisinau, 4-5 November 2014.