Recently, the ANERIS consortium submitted feedback regarding the upcoming revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Announced on December 16, 2025, the consultation and call for evidence aim to better protect the marine environment, simplify the directive’s implementation, and reduce administrative burdens. The Commission launched this consultation because the framework failed to achieve the environmental status objective in all EU marine waters, and, thereby, currently, there is a need for a speedy revision to simplify administrative regulations and enhance data management.  

In response to these new measures, the ANERIS project contributed to the MSFD evaluation, proposing several recommendations that seek to achieve stronger integration of marine observation technologies through improved accessibility and implementation of in situ monitoring. The recommendations in question include: 

1. Introducing in situ monitoring will improve assessments of marine ecosystems and their progress tracking, leading to scoring Good Environmental Status (GES). 

2. Advancing the coordination between European marine monitoring networks and Research Infrastructures (RI) to ensure quality and consistency across environmental assessments. 

3. Facilitating access to marine data and encouraging data sharing for improved decision-making and fewer instances of duplication of effort. 

4. Enhancing the digital environment for marine data management and analysis, resulting in more efficient reporting and better implementation of the directive. 

5. Simplifying administrative processes through streamlined data flows, standardisation, and automated reporting mechanisms that reduce the workload of member states while ensuring high-quality environmental assessments. 

6. Strengthening the links between scientific infrastructures and policy frameworks for more effective data monitoring and better support for marine environmental management.

To read the whole feedback submitted by the ANERIS’ coordination team, click on the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16093-Marine-environment-protection-revision-of-EU-rules/F33379079_en