These slides have been used for the introduction and scene setting of the workshop "Citizens Science and Environmental Monitoring: Benefits and Challenges", which took place in Ispra (Italy) on 21st and 22nd November 2018. They include:

• An introduction to the COST Action 15212 and WG3 (Katrin VOHLAND, Chair of Citizen Science Cost Action);
• Highlights from relevant EC activities (Sven SCHADE, JRC B.6);
• Scene setter on the EC actions to streamline environmental reporting. (Elena MONTANI, DG ENV A.3);
• The Interest Group of Citizen Science of the EPA Network (Jose Miguel Rubio, EEA); and
• An brief intervention of Andrea Giacomelli on bottum-up activities.