Comparisons and synthesis of the main elements of the GES and the monitoring programs of the 1st and 2nd cycles of the MSFD, reported by the European Member States for Descriptor 2 (non-indigenous species) - Analyses between countries and versus France

The objective of this study is to compare the main elements reported by the European Member States for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) of Article 11 (monitoring programmes) and Article 9 (definition of good environmental status), for Descriptor 2: " Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems". This report is based on the elements communicated by the Member States for the 1st and 2nd MSFD cycles, as described in more than 50 available documents, supplemented by a survey specific to this study. The evolutions observed between these elements compared between countries, regional seas, and at the scale of all the European Member States, have made it possible to characterise and interpret the trends, coherence and specificities at all these scales. The analysis carried out on these multi-scale comparisons allowed us to conclude on the observed evolutions between many elements (GES, parameters, pathways and vectors, sectors, links between regulations, and trends between the two reporting cycles), both between countries and between regional seas. Important progress and many convergences are described and interpreted, notably and mainly through the observed general strengthening of the link with the Regional Seas Conventions. Recommendations are made for the French work following these conclusions.