1. Review of Decision 2010/477/EU and MSFD Annex III
Informal meeting of the EU Water and EU Marine Directors
Luxembourg, November 2015
Review of Decision 2010/477/EU and MSFD Annex III
Current state of play
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit

2. The review
Response to findings of Commission’s Art. 12 report – insufficient clarity and coherence in the determination of GES
MSFD Regulatory Committee mandate in 2013 for review and possible revision of Decision 2010/477/EU and MSFD Annex III
Three phases:
Scientific and technical review
Consultation
Policy development

3. Main aims of revised Decision & Annex III
Simpler;
Clearer;
Introducing minimum requirements (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 (e.g. specified lists of contaminants, species, litter types, etc.).

4. GES Decision review – progress
Phase 1 – scientific and technical reviews
Technical review of Decision per Descriptor and Annex III – started in spring 2014, led by JRC and ICES and supported by expert networks and/or expert workshops
MS and stakeholder comments on draft 'manuals' in period up to spring 2015
Manuals finalised for WG GES (April) and Committee (May 2015)
Outstanding issues identified – short and longer-term actions, including further workshops on D1, D2 and D5 (September 2015)

5. GES Decision review – progress
Phase 2 – consultation and discussion
Consultation with MS and stakeholders on manuals and Annex III May-July 2015
Compilation of comments and analysis – August-September
Summary of comments to WG GES (October 2015)

6. GES Decision review – progress
Phase 3 – Policy development
Presentation of overall principles underpinning review of GES Decision and first examples of descriptors 8 and 9 to MSCG (November 2015)
First draft text of the proposal for a Commission Directive amending Annex III of MSFD to Committee (November 2015)
Discussions within DG Environment and other DGs (e.g. SANTE, JRC, MARE) to ensure coherence with other policies (ongoing)

7. Phase III – outline of next steps/timing
Jan. 2016: first full draft text of Commission Decision to MSFD Committee, further discussion on Annex III proposal
Feb. & April 2016: additional Committee meetings for discussion (if necessary)
June 2016: possible vote in MSFD Committee
Autumn 2016: formal adoption and publication (subject to favourable vote in Committee)