The European Geoparks Network was established in June 2000 by four Geoparks:

·          Reserve Geologique de Haute-Provence - France

·          Natural History Museum of Lesvos Petrified Forest - (Island of Lesvos) Greece

·          Geopark Gerolstein/Vulkaneifel - Germany and

·          Maestrazgo Cultural Park - Spain

At present, the Network comprises of 32 Geoparks from 13 European Countries.

Main objective of the cooperation between Geoparks is the protection of geological heritage and the promotion of sustainable development of their territories in Europe.
The above listed Geoparks signed a convention on Lesvos Island, Greece in June 2000 declaring the creation of the European Geoparks Network. The purpose of this general designation was to share information and expertises, as well as definition of common tools. 
The Network owns the "European Geopark" trademark registered within all countries in the European Community.

In April 2001 the Network signed with UNESCO (Division of Earth Sciences) an official agreement of collaboration placing the Network under the auspices of the organization.
In October 2005 the Network in the frame of the existing agreement of collaboration  with UNESCO (Division of Earth Sciences) signed an official declaration (Madonie declaration) according to which the EGN is recognized as the official branch of the UNESCO - Global Geoparks Network in Europe. With this declaration UNESCO recognize that the European geoparks Network is a reference to follow for the creation of  similar Continental Networks of Geoparks worldwide.

Here are some of the important and historic dates which mark the steps of the Network's formation.

3-5 June 2000
SIGNATURE of the CONVENTION of the CREATION of the EUROPEAN GEOPARK LABEL
Lesvos (Greece)
During a ceremony organised in Mytilene in the presence of representatives of  the Greek government and the press, the representatives of the four founding territories signed the convention defining the usage of the European Geopark label, its conditions and attributes and its constitutional charter.
This highly publicized ceremony was the stimulus of the configuration of the large Network of today. 

October 2000
1^st ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Maestrazgo Cultural park

During the first annual conference, organized in Molinos, Teruel, Spain it was announced the establishment of EGN and the procedure to welcome new members in the Network

20 April 2001
SIGNATURE of the CONVENTION  of COOPERATION between UNESCO and the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Parc Cabo de Gata (Spain)
This signing took place on the occasion of the opening ceremony  of  a transnational meeting on the "Management of protected natural spaces and sustainable development" organised by the Junta of Andalucia in partnership with the Regional Council of Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur in the frame of the  INTERREG IIC programme.
This convention defines the basis of the partnership between the two signatories.
This convention was marked by the presence of the Andalucian Minister  of the Environment and the Vice President of the Regional Counsel PACA, by Mr. Wolfgang EDER, Director of the UNESCO's department of Earth Sciences and Mr. Henri Carbuccia, Adjoint to the mayor of Digne and President of the Réserve Géologique de Haute Provence, representative of the Network. 
 
October 2001
2nd ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK  - FIRST CEREMONY for the INTEGRATION of NEW MEMBERS into the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK (5-10-2001)
Lesvos (Greece)
This event was organised in the newly opened  Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest in the presence of politicians and the press.
The representatives of the twelve first territories received their distinction from delegates of the Greek government.
 

October 2002
3rd ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Kamptal Geopark (Austria)
Welcome of three new members. EGN has already 15 members.

October 2003
4th ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Psiloritis Geopark (Greece)
Welcome of two new members. EGN has already 17 members.

February 2004
ESTABLISHMENT of the  GLOBAL GEOPARKS NETWORK
Paris (France)
In February 2004 the UNESCO international group of experts assembled in Paris where the following items were discussed and decided: a) the establishment of a Global UNESCO Network of Geoparks  b) the acceptance of the Operational Guidelines for application on the global Network. It was also decided that the existing 17 European Geoparks and 8 new Chinese Geoparks be included in the Global UNESCO Network of Geoparks.

October 2004
Madonie Declaration - Cooperation agreement between UNESCO and  the  EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Madonie Geopark (Italy)
In October 2004 during the 5th European Geoparks Meeting held in Petralia Sottana, Madonie Geopark, a new agreement between the Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO and the European Geoparks Network was officially signed. According to this agreement: ”A European territory wishing to become a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Geoparks must submit a full application dossier to the European Geoparks Network, which acts as the integration organisation into the UNESCO Network for the European continent. The Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO recognises that the European Geoparks Network is the reference to follow for the creation of other continental networks of geoparks.”

October 2004
5th ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Madonie Geopark (Italy)
Welcome of five new Geoparks. The EGN has already 22 members. Results of the 1^st Revalidation procedure of the EGN members.