A Sea for Life MSFD related projects under Integrated Maritime Policy European Commission, DG Environment, Marine Unit © iStockphoto

IMP The primary objective of the Union's Integrated Maritime Policy (‘IMP’) is to develop and implement integrated, coordinated, coherent, transparent and sustainable decision-making in relation to the oceans, seas, coastal, insular and outermost regions and in the maritime sectors Regulation EU 1255/2011 adopted in November 2011 sets out a 40 mio € programme to support IMP development EMFF proposal will continue support for the period 2014-2020

General objectives of IMP regulation to foster the development and implementation of integrated governance of maritime and coastal affairs; to contribute to the development of cross-sectoral tools, namely Maritime Spatial Planning, the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) and marine knowledge to promote the protection of the marine environment, in particular its biodiversity, and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources and to further define the boundaries of the sustainability of human activities that have an impact on the marine environment, in particular in the framework of MSFD to support the development and implementation of sea- basin strategies to improve and enhance external cooperation and coordination in relation to the objectives of the IMP to support sustainable economic growth, employment, innovation and new technologies in maritime sectors

IMP regulation requires at least 8% to be allocated for priority III Financing decision of February 2012 allocates 10% to MSFD + ICZM to be spent in 2012-2013 (IMP projects: 20 actions, 40 mil €) Detailed list of projects for all areas set out in this financing decision (i.e. EMODnet, CISE, sea basin strategies)

MSFD Action 1 ENV.D.2/FRA/2012/0017 Title: Framework contract for services related to coordination between the different marine regions in implementing the ecosystem approach TED publication date: 02/05/2012 eTendering link: https://etendering.ted.europa.eu/cft/cft-display.html?cftId=66 Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 13/06/2012 Type: Framework contract with reopening of competition, 1 000 000 EUR

Objective To support the coherence of the implementation of the MSFD within and among marine regions and ensure consistency with the legal obligations under EU legislation and international agreements Assist the Commission in preparing and following up from the report under Article 12 of the MSFD as well as the RSCs in the preparation of inputs for the next stages of implementation, in particular as regards the monitoring programmes and the programme of measures Provide feedback from the work of the RSCs as regards the need for further action at EU level in order to ensure consistency and complementarity with all relevant EU policies

MSFD Action 2 ENV.D.2/FRA/2012/0019 Title: Support for the development of methodological standards in relation to good environmental status of the seas under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive TED publication date: 02/05/2012 eTendering link: https://etendering.ted.europa.eu/cft/cft-display.html?cftId=67 Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 13/06/2012 Type: Framework contract with reopening of competition, 900 000 EUR The IMP Work Programme (2011-2013) proposes 20 actions for a total amount of 40 million euro

Objective To support in the implementation of the MSFD and the further development of criteria and methodological standards for monitoring and assessment of GES, as and when required Analysis and review of current methods used Identification of best practices at European, regional, national, or local level, including the assessment of their effectiveness and their coherence In an interactive way by technical meetings and workshops, consultation with Member States, the RSC, involvement of stakeholders and of the scientific community

MSFD Action 3 ENV.D.2/FRA/2012/0025 Title: Emerging pressures, human activities and measures in the marine environment (including marine litter) TED publication date: XX/05/2012 eTendering link: https://etendering.ted.europa.eu/cft/cft-display.html?cftId=76 Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 03/07/2012 Type: Framework contract with reopening of competition, 1 250 000 EUR

Objective To address the emerging pressures and human activities and related measures in the marine environment To inform and assist MSs in the preparation of their national preparation of the programme of measures to achieve or maintain GES as provided for by Article 13 of the MSFD

Other IMP projects JRC support to GES work Service contract to support of ICZM in particular on coastal adaptation to climate change Expected publication date: May 2012

Other projects outside IMP Pilot project — new knowledge for an integrated management of human activity in the sea 2 000 000 € Pilot project — marine litter recovery (PP on knowledge and on marine litter avoidance) 1 000 000 €

Way forward Settting up of a steering group, consisting of interested MS, RSC Secretariats and EC (ENV, JRC, EEA, MARE, RTD) Aim: coordinate project planning and implementation with activities under the Common Implementation Strategy and RSCs Ad hoc meeting in July to prepare first official meeting of project steering group in autumn (meeting in July could contribute to ToR, work plan and timetable) More info: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/funding/calls_en.htm

Project Coordination Group Action 1: Coordination Action 2: GES Action 3: pressures Other projects