1. Information on projects
WG GES, 5-6 March 2013 European Commission, DG Environment, Marine Unit
© iStockphoto

2. 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

3. 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

4. 3 Framework contracts (FRAs)
Latest information on projects under IMP
3 Framework contracts (FRAs)
FRA on services related to coordination between the different marine regions in implementing the ecosystem approach
FRA on support for the development of methodological standards in relation to good environmental status of the seas under the MSFD
FRA on emerging pressures, human activities and measures in the marine environment (including marine litter)
Technical work starts through specific assignments within each FRA. Several contracts have been launched or are in the pipeline (see next slides)

5. Marine Conference in beginning of 2014 (signed)
Within FRA on services related to coordination between the different marine regions in implementing the ecosystem approach
Analysis of RSC needs ensuring better coherence of approaches under the MSFD (signed)
Analyse the key needs of Regional Sea Conventions for support in relation to MSFD implementation, and make recommendations on future areas of work where support may be needed, including on the practical means to be used. The analysis and recommendations should concern the period up to 2020, with a focus on the next four years, and consider the needs of each individual RSC, as well as foster cooperation and coherence among different RSCs.
Marine Conference in beginning of 2014 (signed)
Assist preparation of a conference (two days maximum) on work undertaken under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, paying specific attention to the work of the regional sea conventions and their contribution to the implementation of the MSFD. The conference will allow the presentation and discussion of the results of the Commission's Article 12 report with representatives from all contracting parties of the four regional sea conventions, their secretariats and experts from organisations working closely with them.
Approximately 300 participants are expected. The event will take place in Brussels.

6. Within FRA on support for the development of methodological standards in relation to good environmental status of the seas under the MSFD
Conceptual document on coherence scales and aggregation rules for assessment and monitoring of GES (in evaluation process)
Analyse and compare the national approaches per descriptor regarding scales for assessment of state, determining GES and setting environmental targets. Comparison with regional approaches and methods applied in research projects
Identify issues that require further consultation by MS, RSC and the EC
Develop a conceptual document for coherent geographic scales and aggregation rules in assessment and monitoring of GES
This work will feed into WG GES and will be carried out in close collaboration with the WG GES (in particular their co-leads) as an input to the work mandated by the Marine Directors.

7. Guidelines for sustainable aquaculture development (under preparation)
Within FRA on emerging pressures, human activities and measures in the marine environment (including marine litter)
Administrative, organisational and logistic support for the Technical Sub-Groups on Marine Litter and Underwater Noise. Implementation started
This task includes the successful preparation and organisation of 9 events (meetings of the TSG Noise and TSG Litter and workshops) including all necessary reports to WG GES/MD.
• EU baseline and target setting for marine litter including Cost-Benefit assessment (under consideration)
The results of this contract shall be presented for each region, including an analysis of sub-regions and per Member State in the region, as appropriate. A final report should be presented following the consultation and verification phase.
Guidelines for sustainable aquaculture development (under preparation)
The objective of the contract is to provide background information and support for the development of EU broad guidance on aquaculture development addressing sustainability and environmental protection, in particular the requirements of the WFD and the MSFD and organize a debate with MS on this.

8. Progress on other relevant DG ENV projects:
Support action by the Joint Research Centre – under finalisation
Support action by ICES – under finalisation
Parliamentary Pilot project — new knowledge for an integrated management of human activity in the sea (proposals under evaluation)
Parliamentary Pilot project — marine litter removal (pilot project on assessing best practices and starting business cases for litter removal, incl. ghost nets) - Implementation started

9. Project coordination group
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
Next meeting 11 of March 2013

10. 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:

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