1. Marine Strategy Framework Directive Strategic discussion on the future role of WG GES
WG GES, 5-6 March 2013 European Commission, DG Environment, Marine Environment and Water Industries Unit
© iStockphoto

2. 1. Role of WG GES in the CIS WG GES: initiated in 2009
Assist development of criteria and methodological standards for GES and address issues of their application to EU Member States
Priority for : develop a common understanding of the main normative concepts of the MSFD (Art. 8, 9 and10)
In 2012:WG GES met only once in plenary session. The discussions in this meeting focused on sharing what has been done in the RSCs

3. The other topic of discussion related to the future work programme of WG GES. Conclusion: more expert discussions are needed on specific topics, through dedicated workshops:
24-25 April 2012 in Paris, related to commercial fish and shellfish (D3)
23-24 October 2012 in Ispra, on eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8/D9)
7-8 November 2012 in Brussels, focused on biodiversity (D1, D2, D4 and D6)

4. Lessons learnt, MSCG 4-5 February 2013
Over time, the roles and responsibilities of the working groups, the MSCG and the Marine Directors have become somewhat blurry, with some discussions are repeated at various levels.
Some of the discussions are general or on an abstract level and not very interactive, too often based on lengthy presentations (e.g. GES group looking at all descriptors and mainly based on presentations) and other discussions may have been too detailed and technical on what is needed at EU level (e.g. on reporting).
It is difficult to deal with cross-cutting issues; the groups are often too large to have an interactive and fruitful debate.
The results of meetings has been variable.

5. Suggestions: the role of Working Groups
The Working Groups should prepare the work of the MSCG, find technical and scientific solutions, aim to prepare concise documents summarising work done so far and indicate clearly when input is needed from the MSCG.
There may need to be a differentiation of approaches between WG GES, WG DIKE and WG ESA. The groups are different in nature and this may need to be reflected more clearly in the mandate and the way in which they are operating.
More flexible ways of working such as the TSGs or workshops on selected topics can also be useful to achieve concrete progress on selected issues.

6. 2. Article 12 assessment
Assessment has already started (completeness check)
March 2013: Request for additional information to MS
Apr/May 2013: first assessment results available
June/Jul 2013: draft COM paper(s)
Autumn 2013: finalisation of COM Art 12 exercise
End 2013/2014: technical in-depth assessments on selected issues by JRC and "MSFD 2012 baseline assessment" by EEA

7. MS reports: early indications
Often an extensive amount of qualitative information (many pages)
Reporting sheets not yet available for half the MS which makes completeness check difficult (especially for Art. 8)
Very limited precise/quantifiable determination of GES and targets
Majority repeats existing policies and does not introduce additional ambition level
No or limited coherence between MS and between marine regions
Variety of assessment scales (spatial, temporal) and aggregation limiting comparability and coherence of assessments
Gaps in information and knowledge identified, but often without a clear plan to address them
Limited analysis of pressures and impacts (e.g. accumulation of pressures) and limited links between Article 8 and Articles 9/10

8. 3. Regional perspective
From draft conclusions of MSCG 4-5 February 2013:
At strategic level:
A meaningful RSC involvement in the MSFD implementation process should be secured, avoiding redundancy in the work carried out at EU or RSC level.
A strategy should be developed on how to work with the RSC, recognising differences between the four RSCs, exploring various options (joint reporting, request for advice, align work programmes), in the short, mid and long term.
Coordination at national, (sub)regional level (including through RSCs) and pan-European should be improved.

9. Through concrete mechanisms (suggestions) to improve link with RSCs:
Permanent reporting process from RSCs to MSCG and / or Marine Directors.
Encouraging RSC to make the initial assessment and MS to use it, discussing early enough with parties future assessment products which would support the MSFD implementation.
Encouraging transfer of knowledge between different regions, such as Baltic to Black Sea project which is considered as good practice.
Asking RSC to give advice to the MSFD / CIS and vice versa.
Aligning work programmes.
Memorandum of Understanding
Joint research projects or twinning projects between countries or regions

10. 4. Future work WG GES
The meeting today will identify areas of future work.
In particular, the conclusions of the current discussion and those of the discussion of the following agenda point 5 on GES - Common understanding will form the basis.
Follow up needs to be organised to consolidate views and provide input to next MSCG and MD.

11. 4. Future work WG GES - timetable
Apr 2013: WG GES to prepare input to wider debate.
May 2013: MSCG discusses future CIS and tentative WP until MD endorse conclusions and mandate for working out details.
Oct 2013: WG GES discusses detailed WP until 2015 or beyond (in line with MD / MSCG conclusions) including elements that fall under Committee mandate
Nov/Dec 2013: MSCG and MD endorse detailed work programme

12. Draft conclusions (1)
WG GES welcomes the information and the possibility to contribute to this process.
WG GES concludes the following elements to take into account in the next steps, in particular:
WG GES agrees that the focus and priorities of work should be carefully reviewed and re-aligned with the needs of the future CIS process (in particular linking / coordinating its work to the work of the RSCs)

13. Draft conclusions (2)
WG GES sees a need to focus more on coherence and comparability of GES assessment and monitoring with the view to underpin the preparation of measures. In detail, this should lead to focussing on (see discussion item 5):
Improve the GES common understanding (by further developing CU document)
The revision of the GES decision (including scale, aggregation, etc)
Concentrating on ecosystem-descriptors (1, 3, 4, 6)
Cross-cutting issues (such as monitoring, effectiveness of measures)
[etc.]

14. Draft conclusions (3)
WG GES invites the WG co-chairs to summarise the discussion and provide an input to the next MSCG (6-7 May). A draft document should be circulated to WG GES for comments by the end of March 2013.
WG GES takes note of the request to prepare a detailed work programme following the Marine Directors meeting in May with the view to be endorsed in December WG GES invites the WG co-chairs to prepare a draft proposal for discussion at the next WG GES meeting (21-22 Oct).