Facilitating the access and the uptake of Earth observation data by a wide range of user communities and boosting their use for society are the key objectives of the Group of Earth Observation (GEO) in setting up the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). In the 2010 Beijing Declaration, GEO members committed to implement the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles by developing flexible policy frameworks that enable a more open data environment, which has influenced national and regional data policies including INSPIRE and Copernicus in Europe and Landsat in the United States. GEO has set ambitious strategic targets and is making significant progress toward delivering them. Global and regional initiatives, such as AfriGEOSS, the Asian Water Cycle Initiative, the Blue Planet initiative, the GEO Biodiversity Observing Network, the Global Agricultural Monitoring initiative, the Global Carbon Observing System, the Global Forest Observing Initiative, and the Global Mercury Observation System have been created to address gaps in our capability as identified by users. This session discusses GEO achievements so far and perspectives on the possible extension of its mandate in view of a full implementation of GEOSS.