The Blue community: organisations, projects and policy/strategy references

DIRECTIVES AND OTHER REGULATORY ACTS

• Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)

  Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC)

  The Marine Directive aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of the EU’s marine waters by 2020 and to protect the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend. It is the first EU legislative instrument related to the protection of marine biodiversity, as it contains the explicit regulatory objective that “biodiversity is maintained by 2020”, as the cornerstone for achieving GES.

  The Directive enshrines in a legislative framework the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities having an impact on the marine environment, integrating the concepts of environmental protection and sustainable use.

   

• Water Framework Directive (WFD)

  Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)

  European Water Policy has undergone a thorough restructuring process, and now Water Framework Directive adopted in 2000 is the operational tool, setting the objectives for water protection for the present and the future.

  The Water Framework Directive has the following key aims:

  –          expanding the scope of water protection to all waters, surface waters (including coastal waters) and groundwater

  –          achieving “good status” for all waters by a set deadline

  –          water management based on river basins

  –          “combined approach” of emission limit values and quality standards

  –          getting the prices right

  –          getting the citizen involved more closely

  –          streamlining legislation

   

• Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD)

  Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (2014/89/EU)

  Competition for maritime space – for renewable energy equipment, aquaculture and other uses – has highlighted the need to manage our waters more coherently. Maritime spatial planning (MSP) works across borders and sectors to ensure human activities at sea take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. That is why the European Parliament and the Council have adopted legislation to create a common framework for maritime spatial planning in Europe.

   

• Habitats & Birds Directives (H&BD)

  Habitats & Birds Directives (92/43/EEC; 2009/147/EC)

  The Habitats Directive ensures the conservation of a wide range of rare, threatened or endemic animal and plant species. Some 200 rare and characteristic habitat types are also targeted for conservation in their own right.

  urope is home to more than 500 wild bird species. But at least 32 % of the EU’s bird species are currently not in a good conservation status. The Birds Directive aims to protect all of the 500 wild bird species naturally occurring in the European Union.

   

• Floods Directive (FD)

  Floods Directive (2007/60/CE)

  Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks entered into force on 26 November 2007. This Directive requires Member States to assess if all water courses and coast lines are at risk from flooding, to map the flood extent and assets and humans at risk in these areas and to take adequate and coordinated measures to reduce this flood risk. With this Directive also reinforces the rights of the public to access this information and to have a say in the planning process.

   

• Renewable Energy Directive (RED)

  Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC)

  The Renewable Energy Directive establishes an overall policy for the production and promotion of energy from renewable sources in the EU. It requires the EU to fulfil at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020 – to be achieved through the attainment of individual national targets. All EU countries must also ensure that at least 10% of their transport fuels come from renewable sources by 2020.

  On 30 November 2016, the Commission published a proposal for a revised Renewable Energy Directive to make the EU a global leader in renewable energy and ensure that the target of at least 27% renewables in the final energy consumption in the EU by 2030 is met.

   

• Safety Oil & Gas Directive (SO&GD)

  Safety Oil & Gas Directive (2013/30/EU)

  The majority of oil and gas production in Europe takes place offshore and there are currently over 1000 operations in European waters. Given the EU’s growing energy demand, these operations are crucial for helping ensure a secure supply of energy.

  Under the Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations Directive, the EU has put in place a set of rules to help prevent accidents, as well as respond promptly and efficiency should one occur:

  –          before exploration or production begins, companies must prepare a Major Hazard Report for their offshore installation. This report must contain a risk assessment and an emergency response plan

  –          companies must keep resources at hand in order to put them into operation when necessary

  –          when granting licenses, EU countries must ensure that companies are well financed and have the necessary technical expertise

  –          technical solutions which are critical for the safety of operators’ installations must be independently verified. This must be done prior to the installation going into operation

  –          national authorities must verify safety provisions, environmental protection measures, and the emergency preparedness of rigs and platforms. If companies do not respect the minimum standards, EU countries can impose sanctions, including halting production

  –          information on how companies and EU countries keep installations safe must be made available for citizens

  –          companies will be fully liable for environmental damages caused to protected marine species and natural habitats. For damage to marine habitats, the geographical zone will cover all EU marine waters including exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.

   

• Barcelona Convention Protocols (BCP)

  Barcelona Convention Protocols

  Seven Protocols addressing specific aspects of Mediterranean environmental conservation complete the MAP legal framework:

  –          Dumping Protocol

  The Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (adopted in 1976, amended in 1995 – amendments not yet in force)

  –          Hazardous Wastes Protocol

  The Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (adopted in 1996), entered into force in 2011

  –          ICZM Protocol

  The Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean (adopted in 2008)

  –          LBS Protocol (including Regional plans under art. 15 of LBS) entered into force in 2011

  The Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (adopted in 1980, amended in 1996), amendment entered into force in 2008.

  –          Offshore Protocol

  The Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil (adopted in 1994), entered into force in 2011

  –          Prevention and Emergency Protocol

  The Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (adopted 2002, replacing the related Protocol of 1976), entered into force in 2004

  –          SPA Protocol

  The Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (adopted in 1995, replacing the related protocol of 1982) and Annexes (adopted in 1996, amended in 2009, 2012 and 2013)