Marine Strategy Framework Directive: implementation process at EU level Gert Verreet – WFD CIS SCG meeting of 11 March 2009

Marine Strategies - Implementation milestones Preparatory phase: the EU Member States must progressively develop Marine Strategies in several steps. By 15 July 2012: Description and assessment of current environmental status, including the environmental impact of human activities Determination of good environmental status Establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators By 15 July 2014: Monitoring programme

Marine Strategies - Implementation milestones Marine Strategies will culminate with: Programme of measures towards good environmental status – by 2015 Achieve Good Environmental Status – by 2020 Some key concepts: Regional approach, specific to each sea basin Building upon existing activities developed in the framework of regional seas conventions Adaptive management, with regular review (every 6 years)

The European Council of 14 December 2007 “welcomes the conclusion of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive as the environmental pillar of the integrated EU maritime policy”

Water Framework Directive River Basin Districts Marine Strategy Framework Directive Marine waters (light blue) in Regions and Sub-Regions The two framework directives link up in coastal waters, where MSFD will complement WFD for issues not covered by WFD. Water Framework Directive River Basin Districts

Work at different levels, with strong emphasis on co-operation in « Regions » Strategy elements Art. 8 Art. 9 Art. 10 Art. 11 Art. 13 Initial Assessment Determining 'good environmental status' Setting environmental targets and indicators Monitoring Programme Programme of Measures National level XXX Regional level XX X ? EU-wide X: ‘social and economic’ aspects XX: common criteria and methods - XX: common reporting (data, information and knowledge sharing across countries and regions)

Discussion in two WD meetings of 2008 followed-up 5 February ad hoc marine experts meeting: confirmed overall EC proposals for work & structure, highlighting some further particular items of interest discussed challenges of working in regional settings 6 February inaugural meeting of the MSFD Art. 25 Committee: adopted its Rules of Procedure discussed work planning of developments falling under the Committee indicated scope for work on 2 remaining descriptors

INITIAL STRUCTURE (2009-2010) COM MS RSC, … Input to WG

Work Division on descriptors of GES JRC 1- biodiversity 2 - non-indigenous species 3 (co-lead) - fish populations 5 - eutrophication 8 – contaminants (vs. effects) SANCO 9 - contaminants (vs. food standards) ICES 3 (co-lead) fish pop. 4 - food web 6 - sea-floor 11 - energy (noise) Not covered 7 - hydrographics 10 - litter Coordination

Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) The Water Information System for Europe, WISE (left), online since 2007, is a thematic area of SEIS. It is a platform for data and information sharing for all EU water legislation. The Commission intends to extend WISE to cover the marine Directive needs (hence: WISE-Marine).

Simplified data-to-info pyramid for WISE-Marine Directive core needs EMODNET EMODNET will be an important data ‘warehouse’ for WISE-Marine

Provisional meeting calendar Time Event 9-11 December 2008 Brest Conference '2012 Marine Targets' - COM informed of planning 5-6 February 2009 Ad hoc expert group meets in Brussels, back-to-back with the Art. 25 Committee [14+] 15 May 2009 ([Brussels and] Leuven) Marine Strategic Coordination Group [back-to-back with Working group on good environmental status) - stakeholders present - Confirm overall work planning (additional needs?) - Progress report from JRC/ICES/SANCO 19 May 2009 in Rome (IT) Feedback moment with EU maritime policy focal points meeting [28-] 29 May 2009 Marine Directors - back-to-back with WD, under CZ Presidency -approval ToR substructure, policy guidance June 2009 Working group on data, information and knowledge exchange - to discuss draft WISE-Marine implementation plan September 2009 Working group on environmental status - main interaction moment for work of JRC and ICES on GES October 2009 Marine Strategic Coordination Group November 2009 - back-to-back with WD, under SE Presidency Early 2010 - Finalisation on basis of work of JRC and ICES on GES First half of 2010 Committee for MSFD Art. 9(3) - Discuss / approve criteria GES & liaise with EP (scrutiny procedure) June 2010 - back-to-back with WD, under ES Presidency