It can be said that overall GES for D6 cannot yet be established, but at the minimum, good environmental status is achieved if: ... the coastal waters in accordance with the Water Framework Directive are in good environmental status and in good chemical status. ... are in a favourable conservation status for the habitat types of Annex I (habitat type 11) to the Habitats Directive relevant to the marine sector in the North Sea. ... the species of Annex II to the Habitats Directive, relevant for the marine sector in the North Sea, as well as species of the Birds Directive relevant to the marine sector in the North Sea, are in favourable conservation status due to the quality of their food habitat. ... the species, species groups and habitats listed in the Wadden Sea are in good condition. ... the objectives are achieved by single species or group specific conventions (e.g. ASCOBANS, seal agreement). ... the Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQO), as defined by OSPAR. The criteria for assessing GES for D6-benthos are set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848: D6C1, D6C2, D6C3, D6C4, D6C5. Explanation: Germany does not update the general description of good environmental status (GES) from 2012 at descriptor level in this reporting exercise. Over the reporting period, Germany has worked with the North Seas countries in the framework of the EU's MSFD process and in OSPAR to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific aspects of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the reporting scheme Art. 8_GES. For the assessment of the criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848, the relevant assessments under other EU directives shall be taken into account under Article 8_GES, taking into account, as far as possible, the regional assessments that have been coordinated so far and, on a case-by-case basis, supplemented by national assessments.