1. MSFD Article 12 assessment Follow-up on geographic issues
European Commission
DG Environment Unit C.2
Marine Environment and Water Industry
WG DIKE
19 June 2015, Brussels 1

2. ‘Marine waters’ Article 3(1) definition
waters, the seabed and subsoil on the seaward side of the baseline … extending to the outmost reach of the area where a Member State has and/or exercises jurisdictional rights … and
coastal waters as defined by Directive 2000/60/EC [WFD].
Reports from Member States requested in 2012
Information on the jurisdictional basis for ‘marine waters’ (e.g. presence of an EEZ or Continental Shelf area) (4Geo.xml file)
Geographic data (GIS shapefile) on boundary of MS’s marine waters
Analysis by Commission
Assess whether scope as reported by MS is in accordance with Article 3(1) definition;
Identify whether there are overlaps or gaps with neighbouring EU-MS (and possibly non-EU-MS) which may influence MSFD implementation;
Identify possible technical problems with the data needed for a reference dataset.

3. Follow-up actions (Spring 2014 regional follow-up meetings for Art
Follow-up actions (Spring 2014 regional follow-up meetings for Art. 12 assessment)
Member States were requested to:
Check their GIS data are in accordance with Art. 3(1) definition, e.g. exclude WFD Transitional Waters, include WFD Coastal Waters & CS areas
Update the 4Geo.xml files, if necessary, to indicate areas of jurisdictional overlap with neighbouring countries
Check and update GIS files to eliminate gaps and overlaps in boundaries of a technical nature
Resubmit 4geo.xml and GIS files, if possible with Art. 11 reports

4. Status of follow-up - 1 MS 4Geo.xml GIS data Latest data
Latest report
GIS data Latest data
Updated 4Geo.xml
Updated GIS data BE
04/13 BG
04/14 CY
03/13 DE
05/13
10/12
10/12 data are correct DK
on progress 06/15 EE
11/12 EL ES
In progress FI
02/13
12/14
11/14 FR
06/13 HR
10/14 IE
Agreement with UK

5. Status of follow-up - 2 MS 4Geo.xml GIS data Updated 4Geo.xml
Updated GIS data IT
05/13 LT
04/13
03/13 LV
12/12 MT
10/13
03/15 NL
11/12
Agreement with DE
Will update PL
11/13
11/14 PT
01/15 RO
02/13
10/12 SE
6-12 months SI
01/13
In progress UK

6. Next steps
Advice from Legal Service and internal consultation on proposed forward process
MSFD Committee in May 2015 informed:
DG ENV will inform MS of any outstanding issues, taking account of any updated information received to date
Aim to finalise maps of MSFD regions and subregions and bring issue to Committee in autumn

7. Draft prepared by EEA ETC-ICM
This map serves for information purposes only and should not be considered as an official map representing marine borders in accordance with international law
Draft prepared by EEA ETC-ICM
May 2015

8. Draft prepared by EEA ETC-ICM
This map serves for information purposes only and should not be considered as an official map representing marine borders in accordance with international law
Draft prepared by EEA ETC-ICM
May 2015

9. Outstanding issues on boundaries of MSFD marine regions and subregions:
Celtic Seas/Greater North Sea
Bay of Biscay and Iberian Peninsula/Macaronesia
Extended Continental Shelf area in NE Atlantic
Others?