Interview with Mr. Dragoman Rabrenović, Director of the Geological Survey of Serbia

Mr. Dragoman Rabrenović, Director Geological Survey of Serbia

The Geological Survey of Serbia (GZS) became a full member of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) in March 2015. What are the priorities and needs for GZS in order to grow further within EuroGeoSurveys?
The Geological Survey of Serbia, which dates back to 1930, has a long and well established history, with internationally recognised professional expertise.
Being a full member of EuroGeoSurveys is very important for us. This is in accordance with the strategy of our Survey too. It is an occasion to follow the latest professional trends worldwide, which represents an advantage and a way for every European Geological Survey to increase its international presence. Geology has no borders, and geological practice needs international cooperation.
Our priority is to see EGS and GZS in a mutually beneficial ‘win-win’ situation. In order to exchange professional experiences, especially within the new technologies domain, we need well-established cooperation with other Geological Surveys across the EU. Our Survey is going to support our colleagues to join the existing EGS Expert Groups.

Serbia is officially a candidate country to become a member of the EU and negotiations with Serbia have already been opened. How would you describe the benefits/consequences of such a milestone for geological survey cooperation?
It is clearly important to harmonize EU and RS regulations , and in this instance, those that apply to our profession. EGS provides a focal point for various appropriate professional experiences and this will be another advantage. Our Survey has obligations and plays an active role in creating national regulations relevant to geology.

In the landscape of Balkan countries, the Geological Survey of Serbia is quite a large institution and could potentially put cooperation on the right track in several geological domains with neighboring countries. How would you see such a role?
For the following period, one of the goals for GZS is to recover its capacities, as a consequence of the troubled nineties.
GZS has the potential to have a role in steering the cooperation in various geological domains with neighboring countries and the recognition comes from the heritage of past national and international geological expertise. Also, I would like to use this opportunity to thank all our respected, prominent, well recognized colleagues in the region whom made all that possible.
In contemporary practice, GZS represents the national, governmental Survey, and it has signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) worldwide. GZS has a well-established, respected cooperation with the Geological Surveys of neighboring countries. We are eager to join the efforts for the future regional endeavors in geology.