1. Questionnaire on Elaboration of the MSFD Initial Assessment
Christin Weiß
Ulrich Claussen

2. Aim of this activity & execution
Germany as co-lead for the WG GES, volunteered to provide an overview on the current state of implementation of Article 8 MSFD on the Initial Assessment to achieve a
Coordinated pan-European approach
Voluntary information exchange
Basis are two short questionnaires distributed to MS with marine waters and NOR
1st questionnaire distributed in 10/2011
2nd questionnaire distributed in 03/2011
Status of the underlying analysis of replies is 23/03/2011
Presentations at EU MSFD & OSPAR meetings
Aiming at a final report to the MD meeting in Budapest in May 2011

3. Table of Contents 1. Responsible Persons for the Initial Assessment
2. Implementation Status of the Initial Assessment
3. Main Elements of the Initial Assessment
4. Information Basis of the Initial Assessment
5. National Timetables for the Initial Assessment Elaboration
6. Main Difficulties and Gaps regarding Annex III MSFD
7. General Comments
8. Interest in the HELCOM CORESET Project
9. Interest in the Project HARMONY
10. Comparable Initiatives in the BARCELONA and BUCHAREST Conventions
11. Conclusions
Summary
Annex 1 List of Contact Persons
Annex 2 MS replies
Annex 3 Tabular Overview on the Analysis of Questionnaires
Annex 4 Questionnaires

4. Status of the Initial Assessment Execution in OSPAR
All states with marine waters and NOR replied
3 MSs have not yet started the Initial Assessment
In 19 MSs and NOR the Initial Assessment is progressing (10 OSP, 7 HEL, 6 BAR, 2 BUC)
11 MSs provided a table of contents
4 MS provided a timetable for the IA elaboration

5. Implementation Status
Implementation Status for NE Atlantic (OSPAR)
Member-states
Initial Assessment
Implementation Status
Socio-economic analysis + costs
for degradation 1
Not started
In Progress
No Information BE X DE DK ES FR IE NL
NOR
X 2 PT SE UK
[1] Information derived from „tour de table“ at ESA meeting from 31 March-1st April 2011 in Paris.
[2] Norway will start soon.

6. Implementation Status
Implementation Status for the Baltic Sea (HELCOM)
Member-states
Initial Assessment
Implementation Status
Socio-economic analysis + costs
for degradation 1
Not started
In Progress
No Information DE X DK EE
FIN LT LV
POL SE
[1] Information derived from „tour de table“ at ESA meeting from 31 March-1st April 2011 in Paris.

7. Implementation Status
Implementation Status for Mediterranean & Black Seas
Member-states
Initial Assessment
Implementation Status
Socio-economic analysis + costs
for degradation 1
Not started
In Progress
No Information
MED Sea CY X ES FR GR IT MT SI
Black Sea BG RO
[1] Information derived from „tour de table“ at ESA meeting from 31 March-1st April 2011 in Paris.

8. Main IA Elements The IA consists of four main pillars:
1. Characteristics and ecological status (MSFD, Table 1 Annex III)
2. Main pressures and impacts (MSFD, Table 2 Annex III)
3. Socio-economic analysis (MSFD Art. 8 (c))
and some include in addition
4. Assessment of descriptors (MSFD, Annex I)
In 11 MS a socio-economic analysis is in progress.
Norway will start soon.

9. Basis of the Initial Assessments
1.) Use of existing information and established methods
from inter alia
WFD
Habitats Directive
Regional Conventions (OSPAR)
Intergovernmental organisations e.g. ICES
2.) New assessment methods can be expected for
A socio-economic assessment of the marine environment & the costs of degradation

10. Thank you for your participation!