1. Assessment scales and aggregation
WG GES, 5-6 March 2013 European Commission, DG Environment, Marine Unit
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2. Problem description: Geographical scales
Article 3(5) of the MSFD requires that GES is determined at the level of the marine region or subregion as referred to in Article 4, on the basis of the qualitative Descriptors in Annex I
National approaches to determining Good Environmental Status (GES) need to ensure that together they articulate GES for a marine region or subregion
Geographic scale relates to the determined assessment area(s) for defining GES
Challenge to relate distinct monitoring (or other information) to an assessment result for such a large area.
This in turn provides the context for setting environmental targets and ultimately for assessing the current environmental state and effectiveness of management measures.

3. Problem description: Aggregation
How to aggregate individual, specific or sectoral assessments to an assessment for the whole (sub-)region and for all aspects? For instance, how to come to an overall assessment of different types of pollutants?
Is the principle of 'one out, all out' when assessing 40 or more different priority substances (contaminants) against agreed acceptable levels a good approach?
How to aggregate two different indicators within one criteria? Or how to aggregate two criteria within one descriptor?
How to aggregate all the descriptors to come to a comprehensive judgement of the marine waters are in good status?

4. The objectives of the contract are:
Assess the electronic and text reporting undertaken by MS under Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the MSFD with the aim to analyse and compare the national approaches taken per descriptor regarding the scales for the assessment of the environmental state of their marine waters, determining GES and setting environmental targets
Analyse which aggregation rules have been applied, if any, by MS in their reports. Based on the results of these analyses and further comparison with regional approaches and methods applied in research projects, identify issues that require further consultation by Member States, Regional Sea Conventions and the European Commission
Develop broad EU guidance for coherent geographic scales in assessment and monitoring of Good Environmental Status and for sets of aggregation rules and organize a debate with MS on this

5. Starting point for developing guidance
Prepared by 'Common Understanding' group:
a) Ecologically relevant scales for biodiversity components
b) Spatial variability of pressures and their impacts on biodiversity
c) Linking of pressures (e.g. hot spots) and measures
d) Adopting a risk based approach through the screening of environmental state
e) Opportunities for scaling up and down and incorporating areas (aggregation, grouping)

6. Tasks Assess MS and RSC approaches
Identify requirements for scaling and aggregation (scientific projects)
Compare methods and aggregation rules
Identify implications for different approaches on statements for GES
Identify specific issues that require consultation
Develop draft Guidance on coherent geographical scales and aggregation rules
Organize a consultation workshop for WG GES