1. Marine Strategy Framework Directive Review of Decision on GES & Annex III
Scene setter
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit
Workshop on cross-cutting issues in relation to the
review of the GES decision and Annex ΙII of MSFD
21-22 January 2015, Copenhagen

2. GES Decision review – main aims
Simpler
Clearer
Introducing minimum standards (to be enhanced by regions and MS, if necessary)
Self-explanatory
Coherent with other EU legislation
Coherent with regional assessment methods (where EU methods do not exist)
Include a clear and minimum list of elements and/or parameters per descriptor

3. GES Decision review – progress
JRC and ICES leading technical reviews of Decision per Descriptor – started in spring 2014, supported by expert networks and/or expert workshops
Draft 'manuals' presented to WG GES (October 2014) – review of current use of Decision, initial proposals for revision of Decision and criteria (variable level of maturity)
MS comments on draft templates to end November 2014
JRC and ICES starting to consider comments and identify outstanding issues
Identification of cross-cutting issues
12th meeting of WG GES: Summary of discussion
GES discussed the various work items ongoing in relation to GES; namely the review of the 2010 Decision, the review of Annex III, elements for a CU document and a cross cutting paper
WG GES appreciated all the work but clearly confirmed that all these items are work in progress and further discussions are needed. Useful feedback was provided on all issues but the need for more detailed written consultation was agreed (see next slide)
Furthermore, the idea for a cross-cutting workshop was supported
The aim is to develop all these items further with the view to discussing and, where possible, agreeing them at the next WG GES

4. 12th WG GES - Next Steps
28/11/2014: WG GES comments on all draft documents (i.e. JRC/ ICES manuals, on cross cutting issues, Annex III, CU document)
Some EGs (D1, D2, D5) can also continue to comment until 28/11
21-22/01/2015 Cross cutting issues workshop, Copenhagen
Early Feb: revised JRC/ICES manuals circulated. If necessary, targeted meetings of EGs to address outstanding technical issues identified (if meetings then btw Feb/March)
25/03/ /04/2015: Next draft documents to be circulated to WG GES
22-23/04/2015: next WG GES meeting

5. MSFD Committee conclusions
Committee/08/2014/03rev document as a basis for continuing and finalising the technical and scientific review phase (1)
Invited the WG GES to oversee the technical phase
The technical phase of the review should be extended until mid 2015
Phases 2 (consultation and discussion) and 3 (decision making) of the review should be consequently, postponed accordingly
MSFD Regulatory Committee Conclusions
The MSFD Committee took note and discussed the document on the progress made so far in relation to the technical and scientific review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU (Committee/08/2014/03rev) and next steps
The MSFD Committee also endorsed the document as a basis for continuing and finalising the technical and scientific review phase (1), discussed and agreed the next steps and invited the WG GES to oversee the technical phase
The technical phase of the review (as described in Committee/07/2013/03rev) should be extended until mid 2015 and phases 2 (consultation and discussion) and 3 (decision making) of the review should be consequently, postponed accordingly

6. Next steps envisaged
28 November: deadline for submitting comments to all draft documents presented in WG GES meeting
21-23 January 2015: cross cutting workshop
February-March 2015: consultation of revised manuals per descriptor and possible meetings of expert working groups to address outstanding technical issues identified
25 March-7 April 2015: all draft documents to be circulated to WG GES
22-23 April 2015 (tbc): WG GES to discuss finalisation of the technical phase and prepare progress report with recommendations for the way forward for the Committee or identify specific issues for further technical work
5 May 2015 (tbc): Committee to review progress and discuss way forward (MSCG will be consulted as well)

7. Cross-cutting issues
Integration of descriptors, especially biodiversity
Alignment with EU and RSC standards
Aggregation of assessments (within/across descriptors)
Scales for assessment
Others??????????
These issues provide main topics for workshop
Discuss in three sessions by 2 or 3 subgroups
Each subgroup to discuss same issues
Aim to draw (broad) conclusions to give direction to next phase of technical review
Discussion may identify further issues needing more detailed work
Workshop is NOT about making decisions, but opportunity to discuss and give direction, based on current state of Decision technical review and practical experience of implementation to date

8. What happens next?

9. ICES focused workshops D3, D4, D6
Focused workshops on specific challenges that arose during the 2014 scientific review of the MSFD descriptors
a) Provide further input to the MSFD review manual following on from the initial ICES/JRC workshop and template
b) Consolidate and address relevant scientific comments and requests for clarification received from WG GES and DG ENV on the earlier version of the MSFD review manual.
c) Comment on implications for the MSFD review manual in light of the DG ENV cross-cutting workshop
The workshops will build on the previous work
The workshops will take place in ICES HQ, Copenhagen: 10–12 February (D3), 16–19 February (D6) and 24–25 February (D4)
For each Descriptor, ICES is going to arrange a focused workshop on specific challenges that arose during the 2014 scientific review of the MSFD descriptors to:
a)Provide further input to the MSFD review manual following on from the initial ICES/JRC workshop and template
b) Consolidate and address relevant scientific comments and requests for clarification received from WG GES and DG ENV on the earlier version of the MSFD review manual.
c) Comment on implications for the MSFD review manual in light of the DG ENV cross-cutting workshop
The workshops will build on the previous work
The workshops will take place in ICES HQ, Copenhagen: 10–12 February (D3), 16–19 February (D6) and 24–25 February (D4)

10. JRC descriptors (D1, D2 & D5)
Cross-cutting issues meeting: January
Clarify specific questions on the identified issues with experts
Finalize discussions and complete the review process (February-March)
Finalization of the manuals for descriptors: 25 March-7 April 2015
GES meeting: April 2015
Following-up on particular issues that need further clarification and guidance

11. JRC descriptors (D7, D8 & 9, D10)
Prepare a glossary with the relevant terms to be circulated and discussed with experts
Cross-cutting issues meeting: January
Prepare a questionnaire with specific questions on the identified issues to be circulated to experts
Analyse the outcomes of the questionnaire, finalize discussions and complete the review process (February-March)
Finalization of the manuals for descriptors: 25 March-7 April 2015
GES meeting: April 2015
Following-up on particular issues that need further clarification and guidance

12. JRC descriptors (cont.)
D8 & D9: Working meeting of MSFD Expert Network on Contaminants
23-24 February 2015, Ispra JRC, Italy(tbc)
D10: Phone/skype meetings, ad hoc meeting of MSFD TG Marine litter (to be decided)
For D10 there will be another consultation round based on the open issues identified (there was no much input from GES), also in view of the workshop outcome. Then we will proceed via a series of phone/skype meetings, or an ad hoc meeting (still to be decided).
For D8/9 we plan a dedicated meeting on 23./ (core participants set is confirmed), we distribute beforehand a questionnaire compiling the still open issues.
For all three Descriptors then a last consultation round before end of March will provide a final draft, to be sent out on 7.4. and then to be discussed in WG GES.
The TG Noise paper on energy noise descriptor (D11 criteria paper) will be presented at the next GES meeting, but not at the cross-cutting issues workshop.