1. Marine Strategy Framework Directive: an introduction
David Connor
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit
MSFD WG GES/ WFD WG ECOSTAT
22 October 2013, Brussels

2. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive EU’s legal instrument for the protection of our seas
Overall objective: achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) of all EU marine waters by 2020.
Adoption of an ecosystem-based and integrated approach to the management of all human activities which have an impact on the marine environment.
Overarching Goal:
Achieve GES of EU Marine Waters by 2020
Protected
Ecosystems
 Clean, healthy, productive seas
Sustainable Use
of Europe’s marine resources
Common
Approaches
 Cooperation at the EU and regional level
Regional approach to implementation, through establishment of Marine Regions and Sub-regions 2

3. General structure compared with WFD
MSFD (2008)
WFD (2000)
Marine strategy comprises elements below
River Basin Management Plans
6 year cycle
Initial assessment, determination of GES, environmental targets – yrs
Environmental and economic analysis –
2004, yrs
Monitoring 2014
Monitoring 2006
Measures 2015/16 + 6yrs
Measures 2012/15 + 6yrs
GEnS by 2020
GEcS by 2015

4. Implementation Steps GES 2020 Main steps of a Marine Strategy:
Initial assessment (IA) of current environmental status of MS waters
Determination of GES
Establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators
Monitoring programme for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets
Programme of measures to achieve or maintain GES
Review of the different steps
Main steps of a Marine Strategy:
Initial Assessment, determine GES, set targets
2012
(+ 6 years)
Monitoring Programmes
2014
Programmes of Measures
2015
Implementation of measures
2016
Six-year review
2018 – 2021
GES
2020

5. What is GES? GES definition (Art. 3.5)
Ecologically diverse and dynamic seas which are clean, healthy and productive
Use of environment is at a sustainable level
Fully functioning and resilient ecosystem
Biodiversity decline is prevented, biodiversity is in balance and protected
Hydro-morphological, physical and chemical state support above
No pollution effects

6. What is GES? – Annex I Descriptors
No.
Topic 1
Biological diversity 2
Non-indigenous species 3
Commercial fish & shellfish 4
Food-webs 5
Eutrophication 6
Sea-floor integrity 7
Hydrography 8
Contaminants 9
Contaminants in seafood 10
Litter 11
Energy, incl. underwater noise

7. Geographic scope MSFD MSFD WFD Marine waters: Inc. EEZs
Continental Shelf areas
Coastal waters (of WFD)
For marine:
Transitional Waters
Coastal Waters (to 1nm)
Habitats & Birds Directives
WFD
1nm

8. Regional approach/coordination
MSFD regions and subregions
Draft map: October 2012
GES is determined at Region or Subregion level (Art. 3.5)
Coherent, coordinated and common approaches (Art. 5.2)
Achieved through Regional Sea Conventions (Art. 6) & Common Implementation Strategy (CIS)

9. Common Implementation Strategy Structure from 2013 onwards

10. Current state of play

11. 2012 – first major milestone
Reporting on:
What is Good Environmental Status (Art. 9)?
What is current state of (Art. 8)?
Ecosystem
Pressures and impacts on ecosystem
Social and economic uses of marine environment/costs of degradation
What are environmental targets to achieve GES (Art. 10)?

12. MSFD Scoreboard Status at 7 Oct. 2013 Art. 26 Art. 7 Art. 8/ 9/10
Status at 7 Oct. 2013
Art. 26
Art. 7
Art. 8/ 9/10
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Art. 26
Art. 7
Art. 8/ 9/10
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden UK
Received
Part received
Not received

13. Article 12 progress in 2013
Questionnaire template and criteria for assessment developed
Reports/reporting sheets from 20 MS on Art. 8, 9 & 10 received by 30th April 2013 are assessed
Consultant assessments:
results in consultant report per MS
results in consultant report per marine region
Now: COM is finalizing its Art. 12 report

14. GES state-of-play / interim conclusions (Art. 12)
Not all MS have “determined” GES in accordance with the Directive
Limited coherence within marine regions and no coherence across EU
Confusion between Art. 9 (GES) and Art. 10 (targets), limited link to Art. 8 (assessment)
GES often not “measurable” – therefore, we do not know current GES levels in the marine waters
Monitoring and measures depend on clear and measurable GES

15. * 100% = 15 Member States

16. Targets (art. 10) Not always clear distinction between art 9 and 10
Majority of targets are ‘state-based’ = GES
Poor focus on impacts and pressures (aspects that can be actively managed)
Lack of specificity in targets (not measurable)

17. Next phases Monitoring programmes In place by 2014
Regional pilot projects – integration across disciplines and countries
Measures
In place by 2016
Identify new measures
Fully implement existing measures

18. Thank you for your attention
Thank you for your attention