Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive).

This Directive sets out a framework within which Member States must take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain good environmental status in the marine environment by the year 2020 at the latest. Member States are required to implement strategies aimed at (i) the protection and preservation of the marine environment, the prevention of its deterioration or, where practicable, the restoration of marine ecosystems in areas where they have been adversely affected; (b) the prevention and reduction of inputs in the marine environment, in order to ensure that there are no significant impacts on or risks to marine biodiversity, marine ecosystems, human health or legitimate uses of the sea. This legislative framework takes into account the following marine regions: (a) the Baltic Sea; (b) the North-east Atlantic Ocean; (c) the Mediterranean Sea; and (d) the Black Sea.