Other water quality sector specific legislation
The marine “strategy”
Member States were also to identify by 2015 the measures to be taken “in order to achieve or maintain good environmental status” for each marine region or sub region by reference to the defined environmental objectives, and to integrate them into a programme of measures giving “due consideration to sustainable development and, in particular, to the social and economic impacts of the measures envisaged” (Article 13). However, an exception is provided for in the case of action or inaction for which the Member State concerned is not responsible, of natural causes or force majeure as well as “modifications or alterations to the physical characteristics of marine waters brought about by actions taken for reasons of overriding public interest which outweigh the negative impact on the environment, including any transboundary impact” (Article 14(1)).
Marine strategies are developed for each marine region or sub region in close cooperation with any Member State involved and third-countries, where these are involved, through existing institutional cooperation structures, notably those of Regional Sea Conventions (para. 13 of the preamble and Article 6). Where the status of the sea is “so critical as to necessitate urgent action”, similar cooperation should take place to devise a plan of action providing for an early entry into operation of programmes of measures as well as possible stricter protective measures (Article 5(3)).