As part of EEA's ongoing security and identity management improvements, we are currently migrating the system to Entra ID authentication.
We kindly ask all users to start using Entra ID credentials when logging in to the system. 

Please note that LDAP authentication will be phased out and disabled by the end of August 2026.
We encourage you to verify that you can successfully access the system and that your account and permissions function as expected after Entra ID login.
Should you encounter any issues or require assistance during this transition, please contact Laszlo Cseh at laszlo.cseh@eaudeweb.ro 
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
As part of EEA's ongoing security and identity management improvements, we are currently migrating the system to Entra ID authentication.
We kindly ask all users to start using Entra ID credentials when logging in to the system. 

Please note that LDAP authentication will be phased out and disabled by the end of August 2026.
We encourage you to verify that you can successfully access the system and that your account and permissions function as expected after Entra ID login.
Should you encounter any issues or require assistance during this transition, please contact Laszlo Cseh at laszlo.cseh@eaudeweb.ro 
Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Member State report / Art9-2024 / 2024 / D5 / Germany / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art9
Report due 2024-10-15
GES Descriptor D5 Eutrophication
Member State Germany
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Report date 2024-10-15 10:22:35

GES component
D5
D5
Marine reporting units
Features
  • Eutrophication
  • Eutrophication
GES description
Good environmental status in terms of “eutrophication” is achieved when “good ecological status according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is achieved and the status of “non-problem area” is achieved according to the integrated eutrophication assessment according to OSPAR”. For the assessment of good environmental status with regard to D5, the following criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 shall be used for coastal waters < 1 nautical mile: D5C1, D5C2, D5C3, D5C5, D5C6, D5C7, D5C8. For the assessment of good environmental status with regard to D5, the following criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 shall be used for the open sea [gt]1 nautical mile: D5C1, D5C2, D5C3, D5C4 and D5C5. Secondary criterion D5C8 is under development. Presentation: Germany does not update the 2012 GES in this reporting round. The 2012 and 2018 GES descriptions remain valid. Regional coordination of the review and, if necessary, updating of the high-level determination of good environmental status has not yet been possible. Work on this will continue in the framework of OSPAR. During the reporting period, Germany worked with the countries bordering the North Sea in the context of the EU MSFD CIS process and in OSPAR to develop methodological standards (indicators, assessment procedures). Specific details of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the Article 8_GES reporting template. For the assessment of the criteria of Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 under Article8_GES, assessments under other EU directives are included where relevant, the regional assessments agreed to date are taken into account as far as possible and are supplemented by national assessments on a case-by-case basis.
Good environmental status for ‘eutrophication’ is achieved when ‘good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is achieved and when the eutrophication status according to the HELCOM integrated eutrophication assessment HEAT is at least good’. For the assessment of good environmental status of coastal waters [lt]1 nautical mile with respect to D5, the following criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 shall be used: D5C1, D5C2, D5C4, D5C5, D5C6, D5C7, D5C8. In accordance with Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848, the following criteria are used to assess the good environmental status of the open Baltic Sea > 1 nautical mile: D5C1, D5C2, D5C3, D5C4 and D5C5. Criterion D5C3 was considered in some coastal waters as part of the assessment of the biological quality element phytoplankton (biovolume of cyanobacteria). Secondary criterion D5C8 is under development. Presentation: Germany does not update the 2012 GES in this reporting round. The 2012 and 2018 GES descriptions remain valid. Regional coordination of the review and, if necessary, updating of the high-level determination of good environmental status has not yet been possible. Work on this will continue in the framework of HELCOM. During the reporting period, Germany cooperated with the Baltic Sea States in the framework of the EU MSFD-CIS process and in HELCOM on the development of methodological standards (indicators, assessment procedures). Specific details of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the Article 8_GES reporting template. For the assessment of the criteria of Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 under Article8_GES, assessments under other EU directives are included where relevant, the regional assessments agreed to date are taken into account as far as possible and supplemented by national assessments on a case-by-case basis.
Determination date
201205
201205
Update type
DeterminationSame
DeterminationSame
Justification for non-use of criterion
In coastal waters < 1 nautical mile, criterion D5C4 is not applied because the depth of vision is not a suitable parameter to assess the effects of eutrophication due to high natural turbidity. In the open North Sea [gt]1 nautical mile criteria D5C6 and D5C7 do not apply as there are no significant macrophyte stocks in the open North Sea due to depth.
Criterion D5C3 is not applied in the Bay of Kiel, as blue-green algae blooms are rare in these areas. Where relevant in coastal water bodies, the biovolume of cyanobacteria is included in the WFD assessment of the biological quality element phytoplankton. In the open Baltic Sea > 1 nautical mile, criteria D5C6 and D5C7 do not apply, as macrophyte stocks are only sporadic due to depth.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements
Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 imposes an explicit obligation on EU Member States to agree on assessment elements, thresholds and integration rules within the EU MSFD-CIS process and through regional or sub-regional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the countries bordering the North Sea to establish them in the framework of the ongoing work programmes of the EU MSFD-CIS process and the OSPAR bodies, where a coordinated definition is still missing. In light of ongoing developments and the revised EU requirements on criteria and methodological standards to characterise and assess good environmental status (Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848), this report is still partially a transition to a further consolidated marine water management framework.
Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 imposes an explicit obligation on EU Member States to agree on assessment elements, thresholds and integration rules within the EU MSFD-CIS process and through regional or sub-regional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the Baltic Sea States in the framework of the ongoing work programmes of the EU MSFD-CIS process and the HELCOM bodies to establish them, where a coordinated definition is still missing. In light of ongoing developments and the revised EU requirements on criteria and methodological standards to characterise and assess good environmental status (Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848), this report is still partially a transition to a further consolidated marine water management framework.