1. NEA GIG COORDINATION

2. ECOSTAT MEETING CONCLUSIONS
Broad agreement on the main issues that need to be addressed
The Member States involved are in principle willing to jointly fund a specific project to address this issue (except Spain)

3. ECOSTAT MEETING CONCLUSIONS
Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) elaborated a proposal
it did not include all the tasks needed for the successful finalisation of the IC for benthic invertebrate and phytoplankton groups;
it exceeded the estimated budget which MS were willing to contribute (MS are willing to contribute max euro)
BUT...

4. STEPS FOLLOWED AFTER ECOSTAT MEETING
JRC has elaborated the main general tasks, in accordance to the Guidance on the Intercalibration Process, to fill in the gaps found in the CW-TW Phytoplankton and Benthic results
JRC has started to identify possible BQE leads
CW Benthic Invertebrates: 2 months
TW: Benthic Invertebrates: 3-5 months
CW: Phytoplankton: 5 months
TW Phytoplankton: 5 months
JRC has estimated the neccesary time to complete IC in CW-TW phytoplankton and benthic invertebrates groups

5. STEPS FOLLOWED AFTER ECOSTAT MEETING
JRC has sent to Norway this new proposal to complete the IC
A very positive answer from Norway, specifying that although IMR will not be able to do this work, Norway experts are able to carry out the IC phytoplankton and benthic invertebrates tasks.

6. NEA GIG Intercalibration: WORK IN PROGRESS
The current working proposal
- MS transfer the money to Norway (to which Institution?) max euros/MS;
- Norway contracts the experts (NO experts or externals experts suggested by JRC) to lead and to complete the tasks;
- JRC assumes the role of general NEA GIG coordinator