1. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Marine Strategy Framework Directive Common Implementation Strategy
WG GES – Concept paper on monitoring
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine and Water Industry Unit
5-6 March 2013

2. MSFD monitoring programmes – Concept and principle
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
MSFD monitoring programmes – Concept and principle
MSFD CIS work plan WG GES to initiate the development of a framework for coordinated monitoring programmes which will deliver data to assess whether GES and associated environmental targets are being achieved, in close cooperation with WG DIKE, - WG DIKE to assist the Commission, when necessary, in developing any formal Commission proposal on notification / reporting modalities.

3. What has already been done ?
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
What has already been done ?
JRC workshop on eutrophication/hazardous substances (Oct 2012)
JRC Workshop on biodiversity (November 2012)
WG DIKE -> initial discussion (31 October 2012), mainly focusing on reporting structure
MSCG discussed monitoring issues on November 2012
Several MS expressed their wish to discuss MSFD monitoring requirements in close cooperation between WG GES and WG DIKE, in parallel with the development of reporting sheets
 Ad hoc Monitoring group January 2013 3

4. Concept paper – Version 0.3
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Concept paper – Version 0.3
A concept paper (V0.1) prepared by DG ENV together with JRC
Paper improved during Ad Hoc group
New version (V0.2) sent on 8 February to Ad Hoc group participants
Comments received from DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, NL, PL, SE and the UK by 19 February
(V0.3) paper prepared and sent to WG GES on 25 February
Most comments from MS have been taken into account 4

5. Structure of V0.3 concept paper
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Structure of V0.3 concept paper
1 – Introduction
- Objective of the doc
- Final result wished: Concept paper + Guidance document
- Main existing relevant documents used
2 – Monitoring requirements of the Directive
3 – Key messages : 7 messages are proposed
4 – Cost and governance of the monitoring programmes
5 – Outcome of JRC workshops and preparation of JRC-led guidance document
6 – Conclusions and outlook : to be added later including link to reporting paper
Annex
Draft outline for a JRC-led Guidance document on monitoring 5

6. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Key messages
KM 1: The core purpose for the establishment and implementation of coordinated monitoring programmes is the "on-going assessment of the environmental status" and related targets in accordance with the MSFD strategies and management cycles. All other elements of Article 11 (1) and (2) and Annex V are detailed specifications or conditions.
KM 2: The monitoring programmes have to be "coordinated", "compatible", "coherent" and "consistent"
KM 3: Build upon and integrate as much as possible, existing well established monitoring programmes and relevant guidance under Habitats and Birds Directive, Water Framework Directive and other relevant EU legislation as well as under Regional Sea Conventions and other international agreements
KM 4: Data and information resulting from the monitoring programmes should be made available in a comparable format and for an interoperable use
KM 5: Monitoring programmes need to be adaptive to enable appropriate reaction on e.g. changes in the marine environment and new emerging issues
KM 6: Monitoring needs to reflect assessment needs and accordingly respond to environmental problems and risks to fail good environmental status
KM 7: Take account of the differences in scientific understanding for various descriptors in the monitoring programmes and apply the precautionary principle if the science does not allow for adequate monitoring (yet). 6

7. Pending questions Introduction
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Pending questions Introduction
UK comment: "the paper needs to explain at the beginning the status of the document: is it just guidance, for information or what?"
DE comment: "the paper is very general and therefore in principle agreeable.
1. It is unclear, however, how some of the proposals can be implemented in practice. For example, the aim is an internationally coherent monitoring with compatible data while existing monitoring programmes under other Directives (e.g. WFD, Habitats Directive) should be maintained. There are however considerable differences between national monitoring programmes under those Directives. The paper avoids looking at critical questions of how to achieve coherent monitoring in those circumstances. For example, the overview table in chapter 3 refers generally to monitoring under existing Directives as “sufficient” for the MSFD.
2. Furthermore, the processes and associated efforts to achieve the required coherence is not clear. Here the RSC have a crucial role. Yet, the RSCs do not feature in this paper. "
EL and FR comments: "the delivery of JRC-led guidance document is late, taken into consideration the time needed for public consultation."

8. Pending questions Key message 1
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Pending questions Key message 1
Considering comments received from several Member States, the key message has been redrafted as follow: The core purpose for the establishment and implementation of coordinated monitoring programmes is the "on-going assessment of the environmental status" and related targets in accordance with the MSFD strategies and management cycles. All other elements of Article 11 (1) and (2) and Annex V are detailed specifications or conditions.

9. Any other pending questions ?
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Any other pending questions ?
Next steps
Agree on the content/structure of the document
Identify need for improvement
EC will check consistency with Reporting paper to be discussed at the next DIKE meeting
Focus on JRC – Led Guidance document : outline, timetable, participants…

10. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Action
Who
When
GES/9/2013/3 with raw track changes
-> to be sent to WG GES participants + copy MSCG
8 March
Written comments
-> to be sent to ENV D2
WG GES
19 March
Consolidated version (MSCG/10/2013/xx)
-> to be sent to MSCG
ENV D2
9 April
MSCG
30 April
Comments received will be published on Circab
2 May
Discussion on the document together with comments received
6 May

11. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Thank you for your attention!