New Decision relating to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

The Commission has published Decision 2010/477/EU on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status with regards to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The Commission Decision acknowledged that establishing criteria for some descriptors was problematic given the current state of knowledge, e.g. for litter and noise. The Decision provides indicators for measurement or assessment of the qualitative descriptors, but not more detailed explanations of what is meant by them.