1. JRC’s Follow-up work to improve GES assessment
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
Common Implementation Strategy
17th meeting of the
Working Group on Good Environmental Status
(WG GES)
Conference Centre Albert Borschette, Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Brussels (Room 2/B)
JRC’s Follow-up work to improve GES assessment

2. Aim of the follow-up work
The aim of the follow-up work is to:
1. Start the process to develop the agreements at Union level on elements for assessment, threshold values and methodological standards requested under the revised GES Decision;
2. Progressively address technical issues required to improve a coherent and consistent application of Art. 8 MSFD;
3. Identify where ongoing work at regional or subregional level (e.g. by the RSCs) is contributing to these needs and where there may be gaps.
D1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10
We consider in our proposal the work overload of the RSCs and the MSs in 2017, and the request made in the previous GES for less workshops or combined workshops. We tried to optimise the needed work with the available means and resources and hopefully we will optimise/streamline our joint effort between the main players to fulfil the aims of the work in the best possible way.

3. Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
1. Take stock of methods and thresholds
2. Identify gaps and outstanding issues in relation to Art. 9
3. Inventory of methodological standards for determining GES and thresholds (EC, RSC…)
4. Analyze information
5. First draft guidance(s)
6. Agree on a template for all Descriptors
STEPS
10/03/17
(WG GES 17)
JRC
WHO
Methodological standards for the GES determination (common approach for all descriptors)
on-going
sources:
Art. 9 reporting (2012)
Regional Sea Conventions (1st input)
Scientific literature
Research Projects outcomes
Member States (current developments in the frame of 2018 reporting, and only where such developments are already available) (2nd input)
sources: in depth assessment of art. 9 submissions, COM DEC review work, Follow-up list of issues included in annex 1 & 2 of this document, Art. 8 guidance appendix 1 & 2);
Some issues from annex 2 might not be feasible/relevant to be tackled in this process; Alternatives should be sought during the process
4. Analyse the information above to identify commonalities and best practices in the available methods and the potential to be applied at a Union level. This process also includes the identification of gaps in the stage of the development of the methods (including regional approaches) and potential solutions. The overall aim is to end up with suggestions that will support a coherent and comparable implementation of Art. 9 at the Union level, as well as concrete examples on the determination of GES and threshold setting
Steps 2-4 will be online after their completion for MS and RSC to interact
6. Optional depending on descriptors specificities. But can increase a coherent input since the aims of the process and the grouping of the gaps are well identified. It can be distributed by ….
Deliverables:

4. Actions by 31/03/17 RSC Actions by 31/03/17 MSs Actions by 31/03/17
Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
1. Take stock of methods and thresholds
2. Identify gaps and outstanding issues in relation to Art. 9
3. Inventory of methodological standards for determining GES and thresholds (EC, RSC…)
4. Analyze information
5. First draft guidance(s)
6. Agree on a template for all Descriptors
STEPS
10/03/17
(WG GES 17)
31/03/17
JRC
RSC, MS
Actions by 31/03/17
RSC
to send compiled info (Excel/GIS) about available and/or endorsed methods, threshold levels and reference values for regions or sub-regions
Actions by 31/03/17
MSs
to send information about current developments on methods and threshold setting
Actions by 31/03/17
MSs
Indicate experts per Descriptor to be invited and participate in the process; GES members will also be included in the communication
JRC
WHO
Deliverables:

5. Review the content of the inventory
Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
1. Take stock of methods and thresholds
2. Identify gaps and outstanding issues in relation to Art. 9
3. Inventory of methodological standards for determining GES and thresholds (EC, RSC…)
4. Analyze information
5. First draft guidance(s)
6. Agree on a template for all Descriptors
STEPS
10/03/17
(WG GES 17)
31/03/17
28/04/17
JRC
RSC, MS
JRC
Actions by 28/04/17
MSs & RSCs
Review the content of the inventory
JRC
WHO
Inventory
Deliverables:

6. Review, provide input and comments to the guidance document
Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
1. Take stock of methods and thresholds
2. Identify gaps and outstanding issues in relation to Art. 9
3. Inventory of methodological standards for determining GES and thresholds (EC, RSC…)
4. Analyze information
5. First draft guidance(s)
6. Agree on a template for all Descriptors
STEPS
10/03/17
(WG GES 17)
31/03/17
28/04/17
30/05/17
07/07/17
JRC
WG GES, experts
Actions by 07/07/17
WG GES, experts
Review, provide input and comments to the guidance document
JRC
RSC, MS
JRC
JRC
JRC
WHO
Inventory
Draft report for D1, D2, D5
Deliverables:

7. Actions by 08/09/17 JRC JRC 7. Second draft guidance(s)
Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
7. Second draft guidance(s)
8. Workshop(s)
9. Final guidance(s)
STEPS
08/09/17
WG GES, experts
JRC
Actions by 08/09/17
JRC
Disseminate 2nd draft guidance(s) and propose format and tentative agenda for workshop (s)
WHO

8. Actions by 21-22/09/17 JRC JRC JRC 7. Second draft guidance(s)
Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
7. Second draft guidance(s)
8. Workshop(s)
9. Final guidance(s)
STEPS
08/09/17
21-22/09/17
WG GES, experts
JRC
JRC
Actions by 21-22/09/17
JRC
Organize workshop(s) to deal with outstanding issues
WHO

9. Actions by end of 2017 JRC JRC JRC JRC 7. Second draft guidance(s)
Roadmap for methodological standards for thresholds and GES determination
7. Second draft guidance(s)
8. Workshop(s)
9. Final guidance(s)
STEPS
08/09/17
21-22/09/17
End of 17
Actions by end of 2017
JRC
Finalize guidance document(s)
WG GES, experts
JRC
JRC
JRC
WHO

10. Information points and wrap-up
1. List of experts per Descriptor for 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, MS & RSC send compiled info about available and/or endorsed methods, threshold levels and reference values for regions/sub-regions 3. Sharing information and documents (MCC) two channels of communication 4. Monitoring inventory (
Two channels of communication
Through DG ENV to GES group
Through our descriptors expert networks including invited experts from the MS and, If requested, GES contact points

11. Information points

12. Thank you for your attention