1. Revision of Common Understanding on Art. 8, 9 and 10 MSFD
Uli Claussen for DG GES
WG GES Brüssel,

2. Common Understanding review and revision
WG GES 10/2013
MSFD concepts, in particular of GES and environmental targets
Role of indicators under MSFD
Clarification of MSFD terminology
Precautionary principle
Risk-based approach
GES and MPAs
Geographic scales for assessments, GES and targets
Assessment philosophy
Aggregation issues
WG GES Brüssel,

3. Revision process DG GES Jan 2014: Outline of CU revision,
WG GES 11: Progress report on how to address key issues
DG GES June / Sept 2014: Draft revised sections of CU
WG GES 12: Progress report
Revised glossary
8 draft recommendations from draft revised CU for discussion
Jan 2015: Cross-cutting issues workshop
WG GES 13:
Reorientation for CU revision: „follow-up document“ to complement CU document
Development of COM cross-cutting issues document, picking up on the revised glossary and DG GES recommendations.
WG GES 14:
Draft outline for a CU follow-up document.
Reorientation debate on CU revision
DG GES March 2016:
Draft follow-up document
Reorientation debate: complementary note and Art. 8 assessment guidance
WG GES 15 – Mandate:
Short complementary follow-up note based on ‚Explanatory Note‘ of the EU Commission which accompanied the first draft revised COM Dec
Technical Art. 8 MSFD assessment guidance
WG GES Brüssel,

4. Support of MSFD implementation
WG GES Brüssel,

5. ‚Follow-up note‘ (WGGES-16-2016-04)
Prepared by DG GES:
Rationale for revision package COM Decision 2010/477/EU, Annex III MSFD and CU
Role of COM cross-cutting-issues document and relation to CU
Pass of time since 2011: reference to relevant documentation
General principles underpinning the revision of COM Decision 2010/477/EU and a changed common understanding of Art. 8, 9 and 10 MSFD
Action requested:
Consider the ‚CU follow-up note‘
Recommend it to MSCG for inclusion and publication at the front of the 2011 Common Understanding Document.
WG GES Brüssel,