The IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines Programme has a goal of establishing a land-surface global geochemical reference network, prowiding multi-media, multi-element baseline data for a wide range of environmental and resource applications. As a European contribution to the global programme, 26 countries established a project under the auspices of the Forum of European Geological Surveys (FOREGS) to provide high quality environmental geochemical baseline data. The main aims of the project are: - to establish uniform methods for sampling, analysis and the data managemnt ; - the collection and analysis of geochemical materials throughout Europe ; - the preparation of a standardised reference dataset of geochemical baseline data. According to the recomendation of IGCP 259 (International Geochemical Mapping) Europe was divided into 160 by 160 km grid cells. Stream water, minerogenic stream sediment, minerogenic topsoil and sub soil and the soil organic layer samples were collected from five randomly selected 100 km2 catchment areas in each grid cell. Respectively minerogenic floodplain sediment (the uppermost 25 cm) was sampled from five 1000 km2 catchemnt areas (icluding the 100 km2 catchment area). Field work was carried out according to the commonly accepted published Field amnual. Samples were analysed for more than 50 elements and other parameters (such as pH and grain size). Both total and aqua regia extractable concentrations were detrmined from <2 mm fraction of minerogenic samples using XRF, ICP-MS and ICP-AES, and total concentrations of organic soil samples were measured after strong acid leach by ICP-MS. Nine laboratories of European geological surveys carried out the analytical work, one sample type was analysed in one laboratory using one method. Altogether some 400 geochemical maps describing the distribution of elements throughout whole Europe are preparead. All the results and field observations are organised in a common database and the maps will be published as Geochemical Atlas of Europe in 2004. All the sampling sites were photographed and this photo archive will be available, too. Samples are archived for possible future need in Slovak Republic. The first results show that the distribution patterns both in surface water and in minerogenic materials are related to large scale tectonic provinces. As an example of these are shown calcium and Nb-concentrations of sub soil samples. The distribution patterns in surface water and floodplain and stream sediment data show large scale pollution, too. Arsenic and heavy metal distribution in organic soil layer samples reveal the most polluted industrialized areas in Europe. In Nordic countries low pH values due to acid and intermediate rock types in the bedrock where the material of surficial deposits were derived during geological processes. In Middle and South-Europe prevail in large areas carbonaceous sedimentary rocks giving higher pH values in stream waters, too. The results thus show the current baseline of analysed elements and other parameters in different surficial deposits of Europe in a continent wide scale.