1. There has been a high level of information sharing and joint assessment in the North-East Atlantic through the work of the OSPAR Commission. 2. The OSPAR Intermediate Assessment (IA) 2017 provides a basis for coordination of national assessments across the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR Contracting Parties (CP’s) that are also EU Member States have the opportunity to use the information presented in the IA 2017 for their update in 2018 to the EU on the initial assessment (2012) for the MSFD. However, it should be noted that at this point in time, OSPAR IA 2017 indicator assessment values are not necessarily equivalent to EU MSFD criteria threshold values. 3. The IA 2017 is a summary of the current understanding and knowledge supporting the implementation of the OSPAR Thematic Strategies. It is a compilation of 47 assessments that demonstrates the close cooperation and coordination between OSPAR CP’s, as well as with other regional organisations. 4. The IA 2017 builds on assessment processes developed by OSPAR over many years and includes the assessment of recently developed new indicators e.g. in the field of biodiversity, marine litter and underwater noise. The EcApRHA project, co-financed by the EU DG Environment, has significantly contributed to the development of regional indicators for pelagic habitats, benthic habitats and food webs. 5. The IA 2017 presents new and developing aspects in the areas of socio-economics and ecosystem assessment of the OSPAR area. Both areas are of increasing relevance, but a common typology and methodology among OSPAR CP’s needs further development. The next OSPAR Quality Status Report (QSR) could capture such descriptions. 6. OSPAR has developed an assessment portal and a data and information portal, which will enable better collaboration and data exchange between CP’s and other organisations, and support the EU MSFD-reporting obligation. 7. There is still a lack of harmonized valuation methods and indicator assessment values for a number of indicators. Therefore the national Initial Assessments are not always comparable. However, so far no country has flagged major inconsistencies in the conclusions of neighbouring national initial assessments.

1. There has been a moderate level of information sharing in the development of coherent good environmental status (GES) determinations at descriptor and criteria level through the OSPAR Commission. 2. OSPAR supports the cooperation between EU Member States towards coherent and measurable determinations of GES - where possible and appropriate - based on the best available knowledge. The ICG-MSFD will continue to identify opportunities for (sub)regionally coherent GES determinations and common GES determinations where appropriate inter alia on the basis of the agreed common indicators.. 3. In the process of updating the EU GES Commission Decision (2017/848/EU) OSPAR Contracting Parties have collaborated and jointly contributed to the process from the OSPAR perspective. 4. The current assessment values that have been proposed during development of the OSPAR indicators as part of IA 2017, remain exploratory, and may be revised in advance of any subsequent OSPAR assessment. Furthermore, such values are not systematically indicative of GES under the MSFD. 5. In 2017/2018. an analysis was conducted in order to assess the fit of the existing OSPAR indicators with the GES Commission Decision. Mismatches and gaps were identified regarding criteria, lists of elements, threshold values and integration / aggregation rules. Resources needed to develop the required solutions have been estimated. The OSPAR Commission agreed the priority is to address the Primary Criteria as described in the Commission Decision. From 2018 onwards OSPAR Committees will be working to address the requirements of the Commission Decision.

1. There has been a low level of information sharing on the development of coordinated environmental targets and indicators. 2. OSPAR aims to contribute to strengthening regional coordination in the implementation of the MSFD and to ensuring coherence with regard to the establishment of environmental targets. 3. In 2018/2019 ICG-MSFD will share information on national targets for five Descriptors, or parts of Descriptors (marine litter, mobile species, non-indigenous species, underwater noise and nutrients) and develop a way forward towards coherent environmental targets in the third cycle of the MSFD. 4. OSPAR strives towards more coordination between its North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy and environmental targets set for the implementation of the MSFD.

! This information will be updated in October 2018 ! International coordination has been pusued through OSPAR (A.) and through bilateral contacts(B.): (A.) OSPAR 1.There has been a high level of information sharing and joint assessment in the North-East Atlantic through the work of the OSPAR Commission which has repeatedly undertaken integrated environmental assessments. 2.The OSPAR Quality Status Report 2010, together with its underlying assessment reports, provides the primary basis for coordination of national initial assessments across the North East Atlantic OSPAR Contracting Parties / EU Member States. The QSR provides an overarching summary of environmental state across the Region and the five subregions. It provides evidence that OSPAR has provided Contracting Parties / EU Member States a basis to ensure regional and subregional coherence of their initial assessments. Contracting Parties agreed they should aim to refer to the QSR and/or supporting data and, when appropriate, the underlying assessments in their national initial assessments. 3.As regards the conclusions of national initial assessments, it was agreed within OSPAR that further coordination should be carried out between relevant Contracting Parties at a sub-regional level. Contracting Parties / EU Member States were requested to share planning information to make this possible. 4.An OSPAR socio-economic analysis is being taken forward and will provide a strong basis for more detailed coordination of the socio-economic element of the MSFD assessments process in the future. 5.No significant differences in National Initial Assessments were identified through sub-regional coordination in the first half of 2012 and no country has flagged major inconsistencies in the conclusions of neighbouring national initial assessments. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012578/20127. (B.) Bilateral Informal bilateral coordination has been pursued through a series of visits to neighbouring countries (UK, DE and BE) in Autumn 2011. Differences and similarities were discussed in relation to the contents and main conclusions of the Initial Assessments and national ambitions in environmental target setting and potential management measures. The Netherlands participated in a stakeholder workshop to discuss Art. 8, 9 and 10 products organised by the Belgian Government. This led to e.g. more emphasis on ‘pressure’ indicators for seafloor integrity. In addition to these bilateral contacts, the Netherlands took the initiative for informal meetings to exchange views on current MSFD products and potential future cooperation in the North Sea. In addition to the countries mentioned above, DK and FR were represented in these meetings.

! This information will be updated in October 2018 ! 1. There has been a high level of sharing of existing methodologies for determining GES and of coordination in further developing them through work of the OSPAR Commission. 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging GES determinations by countries through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 9 for a number of the GES Descriptors, both before and after the 2012 deadline. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1,2,4 and 6) countries are sharing expertise on common approaches (see Art.10). 4.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 9 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

! This information will be updated in October 2018 ! 1.There has been a moderate level of information sharing on the development of coordinated environmental targets and indicators 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging national GES targets and indicators through a number of processes. 4.For Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11 an inventory was created to capture emerging national proposals. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 10 for a number of the GES Descriptors both before and after the 2012 deadline. 5.For Descriptors 1, 2, 4 and 6 OSPAR has an intensive programme of work led by the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Coordinated Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring (COBAM) to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the on-going development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. 6.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 10 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

! This information will be updated in October 2018 ! International coordination has been pusued through OSPAR (A.) and through bilateral contacts(B.): (A.) OSPAR 1.There has been a high level of information sharing and joint assessment in the North-East Atlantic through the work of the OSPAR Commission which has repeatedly undertaken integrated environmental assessments. 2.The OSPAR Quality Status Report 2010, together with its underlying assessment reports, provides the primary basis for coordination of national initial assessments across the North East Atlantic OSPAR Contracting Parties / EU Member States. The QSR provides an overarching summary of environmental state across the Region and the five subregions. It provides evidence that OSPAR has provided Contracting Parties / EU Member States a basis to ensure regional and subregional coherence of their initial assessments. Contracting Parties agreed they should aim to refer to the QSR and/or supporting data and, when appropriate, the underlying assessments in their national initial assessments. 3.As regards the conclusions of national initial assessments, it was agreed within OSPAR that further coordination should be carried out between relevant Contracting Parties at a sub-regional level. Contracting Parties / EU Member States were requested to share planning information to make this possible. 4.An OSPAR socio-economic analysis is being taken forward and will provide a strong basis for more detailed coordination of the socio-economic element of the MSFD assessments process in the future. 5.No significant differences in National Initial Assessments were identified through sub-regional coordination in the first half of 2012 and no country has flagged major inconsistencies in the conclusions of neighbouring national initial assessments. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012578/20127. (B.) Bilateral Informal bilateral coordination has been pursued through a series of visits to neighbouring countries (UK, DE and BE) in Autumn 2011. Differences and similarities were discussed in relation to the contents and main conclusions of the Initial Assessments and national ambitions in environmental target setting and potential management measures. The Netherlands participated in a stakeholder workshop to discuss Art. 8, 9 and 10 products organised by the Belgian Government. This led to e.g. more emphasis on ‘pressure’ indicators for seafloor integrity. In addition to these bilateral contacts, the Netherlands took the initiative for informal meetings to exchange views on current MSFD products and potential future cooperation in the North Sea. In addition to the countries mentioned above, DK and FR were represented in these meetings.

! This information will be updated in October 2018 ! 1. There has been a high level of sharing of existing methodologies for determining GES and of coordination in further developing them through work of the OSPAR Commission. 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging GES determinations by countries through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 9 for a number of the GES Descriptors, both before and after the 2012 deadline. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1,2,4 and 6) countries are sharing expertise on common approaches (see Art.10). 4.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 9 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

! This information will be updated in October 2018 ! 1.There has been a moderate level of information sharing on the development of coordinated environmental targets and indicators 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging national GES targets and indicators through a number of processes. 4.For Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11 an inventory was created to capture emerging national proposals. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 10 for a number of the GES Descriptors both before and after the 2012 deadline. 5.For Descriptors 1, 2, 4 and 6 OSPAR has an intensive programme of work led by the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Coordinated Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring (COBAM) to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the on-going development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. 6.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 10 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

International coordination has been pusued through OSPAR (A.) and through bilateral contacts(B.): (A.) OSPAR 1.There has been a high level of information sharing and joint assessment in the North-East Atlantic through the work of the OSPAR Commission which has repeatedly undertaken integrated environmental assessments. 2.The OSPAR Quality Status Report 2010, together with its underlying assessment reports, provides the primary basis for coordination of national initial assessments across the North East Atlantic OSPAR Contracting Parties / EU Member States. The QSR provides an overarching summary of environmental state across the Region and the five subregions. It provides evidence that OSPAR has provided Contracting Parties / EU Member States a basis to ensure regional and subregional coherence of their initial assessments. Contracting Parties agreed they should aim to refer to the QSR and/or supporting data and, when appropriate, the underlying assessments in their national initial assessments. 3.As regards the conclusions of national initial assessments, it was agreed within OSPAR that further coordination should be carried out between relevant Contracting Parties at a sub-regional level. Contracting Parties / EU Member States were requested to share planning information to make this possible. 4.An OSPAR socio-economic analysis is being taken forward and will provide a strong basis for more detailed coordination of the socio-economic element of the MSFD assessments process in the future. 5.No significant differences in National Initial Assessments were identified through sub-regional coordination in the first half of 2012 and no country has flagged major inconsistencies in the conclusions of neighbouring national initial assessments. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012578/20127. (B.) Bilateral Informal bilateral coordination has been pursued through a series of visits to neighbouring countries (UK, DE and BE) in Autumn 2011. Differences and similarities were discussed in relation to the contents and main conclusions of the Initial Assessments and national ambitions in environmental target setting and potential management measures. The Netherlands participated in a stakeholder workshop to discuss Art. 8, 9 and 10 products organised by the Belgian Government. This led to e.g. more emphasis on ‘pressure’ indicators for seafloor integrity. In addition to these bilateral contacts, the Netherlands took the initiative for informal meetings to exchange views on current MSFD products and potential future cooperation in the North Sea. In addition to the countries mentioned above, DK and FR were represented in these meetings.

1.There has been a high level of sharing of existing methodologies for determining GES and of coordination in further developing them through work of the OSPAR Commission. 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging GES determinations by countries through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 9 for a number of the GES Descriptors, both before and after the 2012 deadline. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1,2,4 and 6) countries are sharing expertise on common approaches (see Art.10). 4.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 9 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

1.There has been a moderate level of information sharing on the development of coordinated environmental targets and indicators 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging national GES targets and indicators through a number of processes. 4.For Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11 an inventory was created to capture emerging national proposals. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 10 for a number of the GES Descriptors both before and after the 2012 deadline. 5.For Descriptors 1, 2, 4 and 6 OSPAR has an intensive programme of work led by the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Coordinated Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring (COBAM) to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the on-going development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. 6.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 10 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

International coordination has been pusued through OSPAR (A.) and through bilateral contacts(B.): (A.) OSPAR 1.There has been a high level of information sharing and joint assessment in the North-East Atlantic through the work of the OSPAR Commission which has repeatedly undertaken integrated environmental assessments. 2.The OSPAR Quality Status Report 2010, together with its underlying assessment reports, provides the primary basis for coordination of national initial assessments across the North East Atlantic OSPAR Contracting Parties / EU Member States. The QSR provides an overarching summary of environmental state across the Region and the five subregions. It provides evidence that OSPAR has provided Contracting Parties / EU Member States a basis to ensure regional and subregional coherence of their initial assessments. Contracting Parties agreed they should aim to refer to the QSR and/or supporting data and, when appropriate, the underlying assessments in their national initial assessments. 3.As regards the conclusions of national initial assessments, it was agreed within OSPAR that further coordination should be carried out between relevant Contracting Parties at a sub-regional level. Contracting Parties / EU Member States were requested to share planning information to make this possible. 4.An OSPAR socio-economic analysis is being taken forward and will provide a strong basis for more detailed coordination of the socio-economic element of the MSFD assessments process in the future. 5.No significant differences in National Initial Assessments were identified through sub-regional coordination in the first half of 2012 and no country has flagged major inconsistencies in the conclusions of neighbouring national initial assessments. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012578/20127. (B.) Bilateral Informal bilateral coordination has been pursued through a series of visits to neighbouring countries (UK, DE and BE) in Autumn 2011. Differences and similarities were discussed in relation to the contents and main conclusions of the Initial Assessments and national ambitions in environmental target setting and potential management measures. The Netherlands participated in a stakeholder workshop to discuss Art. 8, 9 and 10 products organised by the Belgian Government. This led to e.g. more emphasis on ‘pressure’ indicators for seafloor integrity. In addition to these bilateral contacts, the Netherlands took the initiative for informal meetings to exchange views on current MSFD products and potential future cooperation in the North Sea. In addition to the countries mentioned above, DK and FR were represented in these meetings.

1.There has been a high level of sharing of existing methodologies for determining GES and of coordination in further developing them through work of the OSPAR Commission. 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging GES determinations by countries through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 9 for a number of the GES Descriptors, both before and after the 2012 deadline. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1,2,4 and 6) countries are sharing expertise on common approaches (see Art.10). 4.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 9 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012

1.There has been a moderate level of information sharing on the development of coordinated environmental targets and indicators 2.OSPAR bodies have developed internal ‘Advice documents’ on determining GES and setting targets and indicators for GES the Descriptors (with the exception of D3 and D9) taking account of information available at all relevant levels (EU to national). 3.There has been a collective examination of the emerging national GES targets and indicators through a number of processes. 4.For Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11 an inventory was created to capture emerging national proposals. This inventory was created in late 2011 and updated in mid 2012. The inventory was analysed to make an assessment of the level of regional coherence and specific actions were identified to improve regional coordination on Article 10 for a number of the GES Descriptors both before and after the 2012 deadline. 5.For Descriptors 1, 2, 4 and 6 OSPAR has an intensive programme of work led by the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Coordinated Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring (COBAM) to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the on-going development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. 6.Analysis of Contracting Parties draft proposals for Article 10 has concluded that there is a good degree of coordination and alignment with regard to Descriptors 5, 8, 9 and 10, a fair degree of coordination with regard to Descriptors 3 and 11, and a relatively low level of coordination with regard to Descriptor 7. From: OSPAR 2012 Summary Record, Annex05. For further information refer to the OSPAR report: “Finding common ground – Towards regional coherence in implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the North-East Atlantic region through the work of the OSPAR Commission”. OSPAR publication 578/2012