The overall objective of the framework contract will be to support the Commission in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The work may need to be organised at the EU or MS level or by the marine region. It could concern one or several specific descriptors.
More specifically, this support will include the following aspects:
- Providing technical and scientific advice on assessing the pressures and human activities and related measures in the marine environment in connection with the achievement of GES as defined in the MSFD;
- Improving data and information management and related IT systems for the marine environment and developing specific aspects of the modelling on the marine environment;
- Developing and applying ex-ante and ex-post evaluation tools in connection with the implementation of the MSFD;
- Identifying possible cost-effective measures in relation to pressures and human activities in the marine environment and analysing their socio-economic impacts and benefits;
- Carrying out ex-ante or ex-post evaluations of specific aspects of the implementation of the MSFD;
- Further developing methodological standards and technical guidance for monitoring and assessment of GES in a harmonised way at the EU level;
- The assessment of approaches and results of Member States in the different stages of implementation of Directive 2008/56/EC with particular focus on coherence notably at regional or sub-regional levels, and based on this assessment, the formulation of recommendations on specific activities, tools, and/or mechanisms to be put in place to improve coordination within or among marine regions;
- The support of MS in a given marine region to develop coordinated or joint MSFD deliverables at the regional or sub-regional level;
- The support of Regional Sea Conventions in further developing and improving coherent and comparable approaches, and promoting best practices within and across marine regions;
- The intensification of information exchange between EU and Regional Sea Conventions such as regular exchange of information and the compilation of joint or coordinated planning with and between the Regional Sea Conventions in order to facilitate the coherence of processes;
The organisation of events such as workshops, conferences and other meetings to provide a mechanism for collaboration between the EU Institutions, the Member States, the other Contracting Parties to the ad hoc Conventions, the Convention secretariats and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to foster a coherent and comparable implementation of the MSFD.