In order to achieve “good status” by 2015, the starting point is to define the reference conditions and the current chemical and ecological status, as well as to make sure that Member States have a consistent approach in assessing “good status”.

The Intercalibration exercise is aimed at helping to ensure that consistent and comparable assessment systems are in place across the EU. A draft decision of the Intercalibration register of sites established by the Member States has been finalized and will be adopted in 2005.

The Intercalibration entail one of the most important and technically challenging parts of the implementation process, and the quality and outcome will be crucial for achieving the Directive's main objective of “good status”. So far transparency and availability of data is a major problem. There will be no intercalibration for some elements, for instance there are barely any fish data, and as it looks now there is a risk of a massive failure of the whole exercise.

Further reading:

EEB-WWF letter to Environment Ministers of the European Union (May 4th, 2005)