1. Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Lessons from 2012 reporting (Art. 8, 9, 10)
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit
WG DIKE
18-19 March 2013, Brussels

2. Learning from 2012 reporting – initial reflections
Relationship: ‘paper reports’ to reporting sheets (RS)
‘early’ MS have more difficulty matching to RS (paper reports completed before RS finalised)
likely to lead to mismatch of reporting categories and gaps in priority fields
Reporting sheet content
Many topics to cover in RS – reflects Art. 8 and Annex III
RS considered by some MS as complex with challenging questions, despite ‘simple’ set of main questions (concept paper)
Assessment methods poorly developed, e.g. ‘whole area’ assessments
High level approach (functional groups, predominant habitats, hazardous substances) but data often more detailed (biotope/species/substance level)

3. Learning from 2012 reporting – initial reflections
Geographic scales, regions/subregions
Complex issues; inconsistent approaches to scale
Reporting tools
Database much improved from test version, but could be more user friendly (difficulties transcribing from original RS)
Schemas initially with many more error messages
Timing: reporting sheets and tools
Entire reporting system developed and built in 15 months
Agreed RS ‘too late’ for early reporting MS
Final reporting tools and guidance slightly delayed due to major revision needed
MS with internal systems built on ‘trial version’ of schemas
MS with long/complex internal processes need RS earlier

4. First lessons learned - from Germany
realistic timeframes including internal processes in MS
schema publication – the effective starting point for MS
evaluation defines the reporting content
avoid free text – use structured information
use existing information processes to regional organisations

5. Learning from 2012 reporting – future reporting
Process
Joint working with other WGs – linking concepts and reporting
Monitoring – WG GES/DIKE ad-hoc meeting and follow-up
Measures – WG GES/DIKE/ESA, WFD
Timing
Develop and agree Reporting Sheets in good time
Art. 11 Monitoring – aim to agree RS by spring 2013 (reports due October 2014)
Art. 13 Measures – aim to agree RS by mid 2014 (reports due March 2016)
Art. 8, 9 and 10 reporting in 2018 – aim to agree revised RS by 2016
Reporting system
Develop and test reporting tools in good time
Improved user-friendly interface
Decentralisation and regional cooperation

6. Thank you for your attention!
Thank you for your attention!