French Mediterranean Report: Assessing the state of play and challenges in coherence and cross-compliance

This report explores the current state of coherence and cross-compliance in marine environmental governance, with a focus on how various EU and national policy frameworks interact in practice. It assesses whether the interplay between the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) enables a coherent approach to managing the marine environment—particularly in the context of France’s Mediterranean coast. Drawing on a case study of French marine governance, it examines how sectoral implementation mechanisms, especially in energy and fisheries, impact the realization of both marine policy objectives and broader European Green Deal goals. The report also investigates persistent challenges and highlights best practices that could help internalize key sustainability objectives across sectors. Through this lens, we assess how policy integration, strategic planning documents like the Document Stratégique de Façade (DSF), and cross-sectoral coordination influence the effectiveness of marine environmental protection.