European VLBI for crustal dynamics

Regular geodetic VLBI observations in the European network of fixed radio telescopes have been carried out since the late eighties at an average rate of six sessions per year. From these data site coordinates, baseline length changes and station velocity vectors have been derived with steadily increasing accuracy. The overall picture of the observed present-day site motions agrees quite well with the pattern of tectonic motions inferred from the geotectonic setting of Central Europe and the western Mediterranean. Interesting details are emerging for horizontal motions of the three stations in Italy which are strongly affected by the complex interactions between the different tectonic regimes in this area. The results for vertical components are also improving with increasing length of the observational record, allowing to place upper bounds on the relative vertical motions of the sites. The geodetic VLBI network operations receive supportive funding by the European Union under the current Framework Programmes, which include Research and Training Networks.