Governance and partnership of the MSFD Competence Centre (MCC)

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive Competence Centre (MCC), hosted and supported by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), directly exchanges with all Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) players: Marine Directors, Marine Strategy Coordination Group (MSCG), CIS Working Groups (Economic and Social Assessment (WG ESA); Data, Information and Knowledge Exchange (WG DIKE); Good Environmental Status (WG GES)), and other Technical Groups (TGs) related to each of the MSFD Descriptors.

Functional representation of how the MCC interacts with relevant policies, organisations, and groups.

Given that the marine and coastal environments of European regions have different specific characteristics, it is important that the MSFD be implemented coherently and on a common scientific and technical basis in order to reach an equal level of environmental protection across Europe and its adjacent Seas. The MCC provides a platform through which information can be shared at regional and EU levels, and includes the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Regional Sea Conventions (RSCs) as close partners. In addition, the MCC will establish specific collaboration with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in order to deliver scientific and technical support for the MSFD CIS. In addition, the MCC manages ad-hoc expert networks which can be adapted to specific needs and requests (e.g. the creation of networks of experts nominated by Member States for the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters).