Short and mid-term project needs for MSFD implementation DG ENV C2 PCG meeting Brussels, 4 November 2015

Background – Next major milestones (1st cycle) Art.11 reporting 2014 Commission assessment Art.12 2015-16 Art.13 Programmes of measures Oct 15 - Mar16 Commission assessment Art.16 2016-17 Art.18 interim report on PoMs 2018 Commission first evaluation Art.20 by 2019

Background – Next major milestones (2nd cycle) Art.8-9-10 updates 2018 Commission assessment Art.12 2019 Art.11 Monitoring programmes 2020 Commission assessment Art.12 2021 Art.13 Programmes of measures 2022 Commission assessment Art.16 2023

Background – where do we stand with projects? Ongoing projects to support: Specific regions Methodological developments for data sharing and assessments Mitigation of the impact of human pressures (noise, litter, blue economy) Monitoring

What is to be expected? New call for proposal to be published early 2016  two years' budget merged to: Streamline application process Maximise the impact of projects Identification of possible topics based on Lessons learnt from past experiences Existing gaps

Questions 1 Looking at the current round of support grants, which aspects do you consider most useful for the implementation of the MSFD?  Could they have been made even more useful, and how? What aspects of these grants were less useful, or even counterproductive? When comparing two possible forms of financial support – direct grants to Member States versus the funding of consultants – what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Which one is preferable?

Questions 2 Do you think that different regions would benefit most from support for different thematic areas (such as ongoing assessment work under Art.8, or the build-up of future monitoring programmes, or the preparation of future measures)? Which ones? If so, which thematic areas are most in need of support in your regional sea?  In your Member State? What other financial support has been used for the implementation of the MSFD?  How well was this coordinated with the current grants, and could this be improved? Bearing in mind the legal obligations for public procurement, how can it be ensured that there will be adequate proposals in all regional sea basins?

Thank you for your attention!