1. Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit
Commission report on the progress in establishing Marine Protected Areas
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit
WG ESA
Brussels, 9 March 2015

2. Art. 21 MSFD Progress report on protected areas
On the basis of the information provided by the Member States by 2013, the Commission shall report by 2014 on progress in the establishment of marine protected areas, having regard to existing obligations under applicable Community law and International commitments of the Community and the Member States.
The report shall be submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council.

3. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Art. 21 COM Report
Input from :
EEA briefing "Marine Protected Areas in Europe's Seas".
Deltares report "Proposal for an assessment method of the ecological coherence of networks of marine protected areas in Europe".
Adoption planned for 2nd quarter of 2015

4. Structure of the report
Terminology
MPAs vs spatial protection measures
Links to relevant policies
EU level: Nature Directives, CFP, WFD, MSP Directive
International level: RSC, CBD, UNCLOS
Assessment of progress made in designating MPAs
Coherence and representativeness
Conclusions and outlook

5. Progress made in designating MPAs
EEA: in 2012, the European MPA network consisted of sites and covered km2  MPAs cover 5.9% of EU marine areas
Marine Natura 2000 network represents 2/3 of the EU MPA network
Large differences in coverage between regional seas
Large differences in coverage of coastal vs offshore waters
Member States have designated more sites since 2012 – these will be included in a 2016 update (and every 3 years)

6. MPA coverage in European Seas, 2012

7. MPA coverage in 2012 – coastal and offshore waters

8. Coherence and representativeness of the European MPA network
Two sources:
EEA based on RSC network assessments
Deltares study as a first attempt to develop EU-wide methodology
Same conclusion: neither coherent, nor representative

9. Conclusions and outlook
Significant progress made in designating MPAs, but work must continue to complete the European network
Further work needed to develop an EU-wide MPA network assessment method
Data gaps need to be filled in
Management measures to be considered