Introductory workshop on marine strategy framework directive
Date: 25-26.09.2014
Place: Tirana, Albania
Organizer: ECRAN Secretariat with EC TAIEX Unit
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the first all-encompassing piece of European
legislation specifically aimed at the protection of the marine environment. Its ultimate objective is
to achieve a Good Environmental Status (GES) in all European waters by 2020 (articles 8, 9 and 10 at
the latest. of the MSFD).
The Directive foresees the implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to the management
of activities having an impact on the marine environment. Each Member State has to work to
implement measures both at the national (Marine Strategies) and regional scale, through regional
cooperation and the use, when appropriate, of existing Regional Sea Conventions such as HELCOM,
BARCOM, and OSPAR.
The MSFD also recognizes the precautionary principle and requests the application of an ecosystem-
based approach to the management of human activities in order to minimize their impacts on the
marine ecosystems.
To ensure that human induced pressures are kept within levels compatible with the achievement
of GES, while enabling the sustainable use of marine goods and services by present and future
generations, methodological standards, criteria and indicators have been adopted to ensure
consistency when Member States fulfil their obligations under the Directive. In determining their
GES, 11 following qualitative descriptors were developed: Biological diversity, non-indigenous
species, population of commercial fish / shell fish, elements of marine food webs, eutrophication,
sea floor integrity, alteration of hydrographical conditions, contaminants, contaminants in fish and
seafood for human consumption, marine litter, introduction of energy, including underwater noise.
Each MS, in cooperation with other MS and non-MS, should develop strategies for their marine
waters. The marine strategies must contain a detailed assessment of the state of the environment,
a definition of "good environmental status" at regional level and the establishment of clear
environmental targets and monitoring programs. Each MS must develop a program of cost-effective
measures. Prior to any new measure, an impact assessment which contains a detailed cost-benefit
analysis of the proposed measures is required. Thus, the goal of the Marine Strategy Directive is in
line with the objectives of the WFD.
The result of the preparatory phase shows that more efforts are urgently needed if the EU is to
reach its goal.
An introductory workshop is foreseen to present and discuss MSDF objectives, steps toward its
implementation, state of the art in selected MS, to facilitate select ion of topics of a common
interest for joint regional training and for one country select a specific topic for tailor made training
on the key points of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Marine Strategy Framework
Directive implementation, as well as to inform on ongoing projects under MSFD for the Black Sea
and Mediterranean Sea.
The introductory workshop should help to establish fruitful working environment, determine
appropriate approach to enhance beneficiary capacities to implement MSDF and to encourage
dialogue and coordination between beneficiaries’ experts in the international context and improve
international cooperation, as marine waters are international and marine strategies should be drawn
up together with other Member MS and non-MS.
Objectives of the training:
Wider Objectives:
• To build the capacities of the beneficiary countries in the area of ICZM and MSFD
implementation;
• To exchange experience through the delivery of workshops and regional training on the
synergy, overlaps and differences between WFD and MSDF as it would be very valuable to
the Western Balkan countries, even though some of them are not marine countries.
The focus of the introductory workshop will be given to the following:
Specific objectives:
• To establish common understanding on main terms, definitions and principles of MSDF.
• To present and discuss a basic requirement of MSFD.
• To present and discuss synergy, overlaps and differences between WFD and MSDF.
• To present and discuss policy, institutional and organisational arrangements for
implementing MSDF.
• To inform on ongoing projects under MSFD for the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
• To propose and discuss the topics of a common interest and facilitate selection process.
• To propose and discuss the specific topic to be a subject of the tailor-made training for one
country.
• To agree on next steps and work plan.
