Creating a Science Policy Interface (SPI) to support MSFD Implementation Date and venue: 23 September, MSFD PCG, DG Environment, Brussels Speaker: Kate Larkin, European Marine Board Contact email: klarkin@esf.org

“…during this implementation phase we are learning that the [Marine] Directive has a weakness….and that weakness is the lack of knowledge.” Commissioner Janez Potočnik, EUROMARES Conference, EMD 2010, Gijon, Spain

Context Scientific Knowledge is at the heart of successful implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) The European Commission has identified the need for a strategic long‐term science‐policy interface to support implementation of the MSFD.

FP7, ENV.2012.6.2-5, Coordination and Support Action Science and Technology Advancing Governance on Good Environmental Status FP7, ENV.2012.6.2-5, Coordination and Support Action September 2012 – August 2014 Coordinator: Marisa Fernandez, CETMAR

Work Plan

MSFD SPI Planning The crucial role of Stakeholders…..

MSFD SPI Design Consultation +Analysis Concept Design +Review -Survey -Workshop -Best practice Concept Design +Review Presented at PCG meeting, 10 March 2014. Feedback from key actors

MSFD SPI Proposal 5 Cross-cutting themes Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. 5 Cross-cutting themes

MSFD SPI Proposal 4 key components Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. 4 key components Harnessing MSFD-relevant scientific knowledge Scientific and technical advice Expert evaluation and synthesis of scientific knowledge Knowledge Brokerage

Harnessing MSFD-relevant scientific knowledge Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. Harnessing MSFD-relevant scientific knowledge The Challenge: Maximizing identification, collection and access to MSFD-relevant knowledge across national, regional and European levels to support MSFD implementation Key requirements: An iterative and operational process for knowledge management: Identify, Collect, Analyze, Validate, Visualize Existing Infrastructure: Online Knowledge Portals e.g. Marine Knowledge Gate, extension of WISE Recommended action: -Promote knowledge management over full research life-cycle -Improve access to knowledge using online information platforms -New capacity at regional, sub-regional, national levels?

Scientific and technical advice The Challenge: A rigorous, evidence‐based scientific and technical advisory process to support MSFD implementing agencies. Key requirements: - Expert advice e.g. scientists from academic and public research institutes - Fast-Track “quick response” policy request - In-depth advice on particular themes Existing Infrastructure: EU WGs, RSCs, National Science advisory processes Planned Infrastructure: Marine Competence Centre (JRC) e.g. online portal and flexible expert networks Recommended action: -New capacities enhancing the expert network to be fully pan-European and involve wider stakeholders

Expert evaluation and synthesis of scientific knowledge Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. Expert evaluation and synthesis of scientific knowledge The Challenge: Achieving a strategic long-term mechanism for synthesising and evaluating existing knowledge and future research needs. Key requirements: -Expert input from Bottom-up (science) and top-down (policy) communities -Outputs should inform MSFD implementation -Outputs should inform research agendas through foresight activities to assess knowledge gaps and research needs Existing Mechanisms: No long-term strategic mechanisms exist Recommended action: -Fund synthesis projects e.g. through H2020 and Regional and National funding to take stock of MSFD-relevant research -Foresight activities to identify knowledge needs and gaps, inform research agendas

enhance dissemination and uptake of MSFD-relevant knowledge; and Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. Knowledge Brokerage The Challenge: A more proactive, transparent and credible knowledge exchange process to enhance dissemination and uptake of MSFD-relevant knowledge; and ‘broker’ the complex science-policy-wider stakeholder dialogue. Key requirements: -Communication experts to facilitate knowledge harnessing, packaging and communication to wider stakeholder community -Science-policy trans-disciplinary experts to facilitate the dialogue Existing Mechanisms: Very few positions exist Recommended action: -Recognise Knowledge Brokerage as a specific role requiring specialised skills -New capacities in Communication and Science-Policy K.B. to support MSFD

Fitting the pieces together…. Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. Fitting the pieces together….

MSFD SPI Architecture Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process.

Roadmap for MSFD SPI Scientific and Technical advice: providing relevant and timely scientific and technical advice to support policy decisions and foster the wider exchange of wider scientific, policy and technical information to support the MSFD implementation process. Step-wise implementation building on existing initiatives Short-Term (2014-2016): Highly achievable (i.e. components already in development and/or significant new funding is not required). Medium-term (2016-2020): Initiate new capacities, develop long-term strategy. Longer-term (beyond 2020): Active SPI with mature, self-sustaining processes in place for each of the four key SPI components..

An official event of the EU presidency MSFD related presentations: 7 October 2014: The MSFD Competence Centre Maria Betti, Director, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Joint Research Centre, European Commission Session on Good Environmental Status Presentations by the European Commission, STAGES Coordinator and Regional Sea Conventions.

Thank you for your attention Niall McDonough: NMcDonough@esf.org Kate Larkin: klarkin@esf.org STAGES Project Coordinator: Marisa Fernández: mfernandez@cetmar.org