Marine management - Towards an integrated implementation of the European Marine Strategy Framework and the Water Framework Directives

► Europe has moved towards most novel legislation on ecosystem-based approaches. ► This includes the Water Framework Directive (WFD) as a 'deconstructing structural approach' and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as a 'holistic functional approach'. ► We compared both directives in ecological and managerial terms. ► We have gained much experience in the WFD implementation and regional sea conventions, which can be used in the implementation of the MSFD. ► We propose an integrative approach for the environmental status assessment, within the MSFD.