the european environment: state and outlook 2015 (soer … · the european environment: state and...

The European Environment:

State and Outlook 2015

(SOER 2015)

- Implementation Plan -

- Version 1.0 -

01 September 2013

About this SOER 2015 Implementation Plan

This ‘SOER 2015 Implementation Plan’ complements the ‘SOER 2015 Project Plan’, describes in more

detail operational objectives and guides the development of the different SOER 2015 parts.

For each of five main parts of SOER 2015 (i.e. Synthesis, Part A, Part B, Part C, and SOER 2015

Online), this implementation plan describes the general approaches, clarifies specific objectives and

target audiences; details the expected deliverables and outcomes, estimates staff and resource

requirements, points to main information sources that will be used; proposes quality assurance and

review mechanisms; and presents an overview of the key steps and timelines for each part and for

the SOER 2015 process as a whole. This implementation plan also includes a dissemination and

communication plan, and clarifies the project set-up and governance.

Version 1.0 of this implementation plan will be made available to all those involved in the SOER 2015

process: within the EEA, Eionet, as well as other contributors. It thus aims to provide a common

basis for respective work processes and related activities.

Note that this implementation plan should not be read as a formal document; instead it offers

guidance on how to implement SOER 2015 and may be subject to change as the process evolves.

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Table of contents

Table of contents

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3

2 SOER 2015 Synthesis ................................................................................................................... 7

3 SOER 2015 Part A – The European environment in a global context ....................................... 12

4 SOER 2015 Part B – European-level thematic SOE information ............................................... 18

5 SOER 2015 Part C – Country-level SOE information ................................................................. 23

6 SOER 2015 Online ..................................................................................................................... 30

7 SOER 2015 Communication and Dissemination ....................................................................... 35

8 SOER 2015 Project governance ................................................................................................. 41

Annex I – Key terms and definitions ..................................................................................................... 45

Annex II – Selected EEA flanking activities and processes .................................................................... 50

Annex III – Geographical coverage, country names and country groupings ........................................ 53

Annex IV – Staffing and resource requirements ................................................................................... 54

Annex V – Project calendar and milestones towards SOER 2015 ......................................................... 55

Versions

Version Focus Date

0.1 - Zero draft outline (including timeline towards version 1.0) 11 Mar

0.2 Agreed ‘Draft Outline’ 18 Mar

0.3 - Revision of outline, structure, etc. 15 Apr

0.4 Agreed ‘Annotated Outline’ 29 Apr

0.5 - Input for all parts based on Annotated Outline 06 May

0.6 Agreed ‘Preview’ for EEA internal feedback 13 May

0.7 - Revisions based on EEA internal feedback 23 May

0.8 Agreed ‘Full draft’ for Eionet and EEA consultation 30 May

0.9 - Revisions based on Eionet and EEA consultation 19 Jul

1.0 Agreed ‘Final Version’ of Implementation Plan 01 Sep

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1 Introduction

1.1 Background and context

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is mandated in its governing regulation to publish a State

of the Environment Report (SOER) every five years, to address the state of, trends in and prospects

for the environment in Europe. The SOER is thus one of the core products of the EEA. The next

edition in this European reporting cycle is planned for publication early (i.e. first quarter) in 2015:

‘European Environment: State and Outlook 2015’ — here referred to as ‘SOER 2015’.

As with previous reports, the overarching goal of SOER 2015 will be to provide policymaking agents

and the public with a credible, legitimate, relevant and accessible assessment, based on objective,

reliable and comparable environmental information. For this, SOER 2015 aims to maintain continuity

from previous state of the environment reports by building on the general structure and key

outcomes of past reports, whilst improving where there are opportunities to do so.

From SOER 2010 to SOER 2015: What will stay the same? And what will differ?

Two elements that stay the same …

Two elements that differ …

Maintain continuity regarding structure

– The SOER 2015 will build on the structure used in the

two previous reports in 2005 and 2010, namely a distinct

Part A (global), Part B (European) and Part C (countries).

Build more explicitly on existing EEA information

– Instead of developing ‘new’ thematic and country

assessments, the SOER 2015 will take stock of indicators

and complement them with short briefings.

Keep and build on the existing narrative

– Rather than starting with a ‘blank page’, the SOER

2015 will further explore the main arguments developed

in the SOER 2010 and subsequent cross-cutting reports.

Involve stakeholders more in reflecting on implications

– The SOER 2015 will explicitly aim to engage key

stakeholders to inform a cross-cutting analysis and

synthesis, and reflecting on their implications.

A ‘SOER 2015 Project Plan’ (see version 2.0 of 30 April 2013) clarifies the foreseen overall approach

and outcomes. More specifically, the project plan addresses the why (i.e. background), what (i.e.

products), who (i.e. project set-up) and when (i.e. timeline) of SOER 2015. This ‘SOER 2015

Implementation Plan’ complements the project plan and describes operational objectives in more

detail, guides the development of the different parts and outlines project governance.

1.2 Structure of SOER 2015

SOER 2015 provides an umbrella for two distinct, yet related types of outcomes. First, EEA will

produce a series of short printed publications that summarise and reflect on the state of

environment in Europe (i.e. SOER 2015 In Print). Second, these summary analyses will be accessible

as part of the EEA’s online services, along with the underlying dynamic information on the state of

the environment – i.e. monitoring, data, indicators, assessments (i.e. SOER 2015 Online).

Both types of outcome are underpinned by the further development of a shared EEA and Eionet

infrastructure to support the exchange and management of state of the environment reporting

information – including monitoring, data, indicators – using web technologies (i.e. SOE Online).

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Figure 1.1 – The four main strands of activity and related outputs under the SOER 2015 umbrella; for a more detailed

description of key terms, please see Annex I

The SOER 2015 In Print will comprise four main parts. Three of these specifically address

environmental challenges in a global (Part A), thematic (Part B) and national (Part C) context. A

Synthesis provides a cross-cutting, comparative European perspective.

SOER 2015 ‘Synthesis’; summarising key thematic challenges, cross-cutting issues, and reflections

on policy implications as well as offering overarching conclusions.

SOER 2015 ‘The European environment in a global context’ (Part A); comprising 11 (or more)

‘megatrend fiches’ on global developments (11+ fiches; 4 pages each). This will be complemented

by dedicated information related to global megatrends (FLIS) within SOER 2015 Online.

SOER 2015 ‘European-level thematic SOE assessment and information’ (Part B); comprising 20 to

30 ‘thematic fiches’ on key environmental issues (20 to 30 fiches; 4 pages each). This will be

complemented by thematic sets of indicators (CSI & IMS) within SOER 2015 Online.

SOER 2015 ‘Country-level SOE assessment and information’ (Part C); comprising 39 ‘country

fiches’ that offer a summary of national-level SOE reports (39 fiches, 4 pages each) plus 8 to 10

‘cross-country comparison fiches’ that show performance against a select number of indicators

(up to 10 fiches, 4 pages each). This will be complemented by links to European and national level

indicators (SENSE) as well as national-level SOE reports (SERIS) within SOER 2015 Online.

Note that SOER 2015 assessments are complemented by a host of regular thematic assessments

developed by the EEA including a series of Environmental Indicator Reports (2012, 2013, 2014), as

well as various flanking activities and derivative products, such as EEA Signals (2015); see Annex II.

Furthermore, SOER 2015 Online will provide an interactive platform to explore the respective

thematic, country, cross-country comparison and megatrends fiches within the context of the wider

EEA information base – linking to related monitoring, data, indicators and assessments as relevant.

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1.3 Guiding principles for SOER 2015

As noted above, the primary aim of the SOER 2015 is to fulfil the EEA’s requirement to publish a

report on the state of, trends in and prospects for the environment every five years – and to provide

objective, reliable and comparable information to policymaking agents and the public.

Generally, environmental assessments – including state of the environment reports – have been

seen to be most effective if the information provided is regarded by relevant stakeholders to be not

only credible, but also salient (relevant) and legitimate.1 Based on this, four primary guiding

principles should govern the development of SOER 2015 – with the aim to publish a credible and

reliable, relevant and timely, legitimate and transparent, targeted and accessible assessment.

Principle 1 - SOER 2015 should be based on credible and reliable sources; in other words, the

underpinning data should be collected and processed using technically adequate methods and

approaches, and the arguments developed should live up to the standards of scientific plausibility.

How can SOER 2015 ensure that is based on credible & reliable sources? - some examples

By underpinning assessments with quality-assured indicators, and being transparent about uncertainties …

By ensuring a scientific review (Scientific Committee) and consultation with country-level experts (Eionet) …

Principle 2 - SOER 2015 should address relevant and timely topics; in other words, the issues

addressed and the structure used should directly relate to the challenges that stakeholders are

facing, and thus inform and support decisions that stakeholders are taking – before taking them.

How can SOER 2015 ensure that address relevant & timely topics? - some examples

By expanding on existing findings, and updating on issues identified in previous assessments …

By consulting with stakeholders about which topics to address (and how), and on the outcome of SOER assessments …

Principle 3 - SOER 2015 should be developed in a legitimate and transparent manner; in other

words, the process by which conclusions are derived should be recognised as being unbiased and

meeting standards of procedural fairness, ideally directly involving stakeholders as possible.

How can SOER 2015 ensure that is developed in a legitimate & transparent way? - some examples

By involving key stakeholders in arriving at cross-cutting conclusions and reflecting on their societal implications…

By guarding the independence of the EEA to ensure objective SOER assessment(s) …

Principle 4 - SOER 2015 should provide targeted and accessible information; in other words, both

the underpinning information and the derived assessments should be presented in a transparent

and open manner – and actively delivered in appropriate formats to different stakeholders.

How can SOER 2015 ensure that it provides targeted & accessible information? - some examples

By developing targeted communication products for different audiences (e.g. Signals 2015; policy briefs) …

By making all underpinning data and information available on the EEA’s website and/or its web-based services …

Subsequent to the finalisation and publication of SOER 2015, it should be evaluated against success

criteria derived from the overarching aim and guiding principles introduced above.

1 For more details, see, for example the work done by the ‘Global Environmental Assessment’ project.

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1.4 The process towards SOER 2015

Immediately after the publication of SOER 2010 in November 2010, the focus lay on ‘reflecting’ (i.e.

on evaluating – internally and externally) on what worked well in the SOER 2010 setting, and

identifying scope for improvements.

Based on this, a process of ‘planning’ SOER 2015 commenced in 2012; taking into account the

lessons learned from the SOER 2010 process. This resulted in a ‘SOER 2015 Project Plan’, as

presented to the EEA governance structure and networks early in 2013 (i.e. including Management

Board, Scientific Committee, Eionet).

The finalisation of this ‘SOER 2015 Implementation Plan’ marks the start of a series of activities to

outline, draft, review, finalise, publish and eventually disseminate SOER 2015 – set to culminate with

the publication of the main parts of the report early in 2015. These activities will comprise 6 phases.

SOER 2015 Phase

Focus Indicative timing

‘Phase 0’ – Implementation Plan

Agree on a shared Implementation

Plan (i.e. this document), to guide and

structure strands of SOER 2015 work.

until July 2013

Phase 1 – Final Outline

Develop outlines and guidance for all

parts, include feedback loop with

Eionet; SOER 2015 Online concept.

until Nov/Dec 2013 (all Parts)

Phase 2 – First Draft

Prepare a full draft of all fiches and the

Synthesis; develop a fully functional

test version of SOER 2015 Online.

Jan to Mar 2014 (Parts B & C)2

Jan to May 2014 (Parts A & Synthesis)

Jan to May 2014 (SOER 2015 Online)

Phase 3 – Quality Assurance

Review includes 2 weeks EEA-internal

and 6 weeks Eionet and Scientific

Committee consultation.

Mar & Apr 2014 (Parts B & C)

May & Jun 2014 (Parts A & Synthesis)

Jun to Sep 2014 (SOER 2015 Online)

Phase 4 – Final Draft

Finalise drafts, based on consultation

process; prepare a beta-testing version

of SOER 2015 Online.

until Jul 2014 (Parts A,B, C)

until Sep 2014 (Synthesis)

until Sep 2014 (SOER 2015 Online)

Phase 5 – Publication Process

Final consistency checks, lay-out,

translate, print fiches and Synthesis;

and finalise SOER 2015 Online.

until Jan 2015 (all Parts)

(note: allow for final data updates in

November 2014 as necessary)

Phase 6 – Dissemination

Launch SOER 2015, disseminate to

respective audiences.

Rest of 2015

2 Note that exact timing of the first drafts of thematic fiches may vary, depending on the timing of the respective timelines

for underpinning data flows and indicator updates.

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2 SOER 2015 Synthesis

2.1 Overall approach

The ‘SOER 2015 Synthesis’ will provide a strategic integrated assessment primarily based on the

different constituent parts of SOER 2015, augmented by an additional integrated and cross-thematic

analysis. In doing so, it will also serve as the basis for our formal compliance with the requirement to

produce a five-year report as described under Article 2 (vi) of the regulation that establishes the EEA

‘to report on the state of, trends in and prospects for the environment in Europe’.

A SOER 2015 Synthesis Report is to be drafted as a stand-alone document that can be read from

start to end following one main thread (rather than being divided strictly along separate thematic

chapters – note that there will also not be distinct sections corresponding to Parts A, B, C). Where

appropriate and relevant to the line of argument developed, the report will directly link and refer to

thematic and/or country-level SOER 2010 assessments.

A SOER 2015 Synthesis Stakeholder Process will parallel and underpin the drafting of the report.

This process aims to spark discussions with selected societal stakeholders about differing

perspectives on prospects for the environment in Europe, and what transitions might be required to

achieve long-term environmental sustainability (see for example, the vision at the core of the

proposal for a ‘general Union Environmental Action Programme towards 2020’).3

The discussions triggered in the SOER 2015 Synthesis Stakeholder Process can thus help inform the

drafting of the SOER 2015 Synthesis Report, and help place the findings of the wider SOER 2015

process into a coherent social and political context.

2.2 Specific objectives

The main aim of this part is to publish a credible, relevant and legitimate report on the state of and

trends in the environment in Europe – and to contribute to the societal debate that focusses on the

prospects to improve, ensure and maintain a good state of the environment. This would reflect,

amongst others, on enabling factors towards achieving long-term sustainability visions.

This overall aim can be translated into three specific objectives:

To provide policy-makers and stakeholders with a credible, legitimate and relevant information

base for decision-making, including development and implementation of environment policies.

To underpin policy debates about emerging risks and their respective inter-linkages, and highlight

how environmental challenges relate to other systemic, societal challenges.

3 The vision at the core of the European Commission proposal for ‘General Union Environmental Action Programme

towards 2020’ (see COM(2012) 710) states: “In 2050, we live well, within the planet's ecological limits. Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed in ways that enhance our society's resilience. Our low carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a global sustainable economy.”

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To inform the societal discourse about the prospects to achieve an environmentally sustainable

future, and the socio-economic transformations this may imply.

2.3 Target audiences

The SOER 2015 Synthesis will primarily be targeted towards informing ‘strategic decision-making’.

This includes those directly involved with EEA and EIONET, the wider policy arena, and civil society

(including non-governmental organisations, business sectors as well as researchers), primarily in

Europe. However, the report will also be of interest to those working to improve the state of the

environment in an international and global setting.

Key target audiences to address include:

The college of European Union Commissioners, including their respective cabinets;

Members of the European Parliament, with particular focus on ENVI Committee;

Environment Ministers and their senior policy officials in Member States;

International organisations, that require a European perspective on environmental issues;

Civil society and green NGOs, with a focus on those represented in the ‘Green 10’.

2.4 Deliverables

SOER 2015 In Print – Synthesis Report

As was the case in 2010, EEA plans to publish the SOER 2015 Synthesis Report as a book of about 200

pages in an A5 format combining text, graphs, tables and pictures.

The report should initially be available in English, French and German (and other languages, as

possible), and can be translated and launched in a staggered publication process throughout 2015.4

SOER 2015 Online - Synthesis

The above SOER 2015 Synthesis report, as well as all underpinning indicators will be made available

online. Furthermore, EEA will also explore whether this can be transposed also in more interactive

formats (such as in an e-book format).

2.5 Information sources

The SOER 2015 Synthesis will build a narrative based on three groups of information sources:

4 The report will be translated into all official languages of EEA member countries and EEA cooperating countries, in direct collaboration with the respective countries.

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Key conclusions and draft fiches from the other three SOER 2015 Parts (i.e. Parts A, B, and C); and

direct discussions with EEA thematic experts beyond the suggested staff seminars as needed.

Reflections based on other EEA assessments and flanking activities (see Annex IV); especially the

cross-thematic analysis in the series of Environmental Indicator Reports 2012, 2013, 2014.

(Two) dedicated stakeholder workshops designed to discuss the prospects for the environment;

as well as a dedicated Management Board Seminar discussion and EEA staff seminars.

The timing of the different SOER 2015 strands of activities should allow for broad thematic input into

the Synthesis drafting process.

2.6 Staffing and resource requirements

The SOER 2015 Synthesis will primarily be drafted by a Synthesis Drafting Team, which consists of 4

to 5 lead authors (i.e. a coordinating lead author, plus representatives of the respective other SOER

2015 Parts to ensure coherence across the SOER 2015 as a whole – at the same time this team will

need to combine expertise along ecological, economic and social dimensions).

In parallel to this, a Synthesis Stakeholder Process Team, which also consists of 4 to 5 EEA staff

members will develop and guide the related stakeholder workshops as well as the Management

Board seminar, including also a dedicated external support to the facilitation of this process.

Both the SOER 2015 Synthesis Drafting and the Stakeholder Process Teams primarily comprise staff

from the IEA programme. However, input from and involvement of other staff across all EEA

programmes will be required throughout the process.

Staffing – Who? Estimated staff involvement (*)

SOER 2015 Synthesis - Drafting Team 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Synthesis - Stakeholder Workshops 0.5 FTE

Other EEA involvement in Synthesis 1.5 FTE

(*) FTE = Full-time equivalent, this is a unit that indicates the workload of an employed person in a way that makes

workloads comparable. Over the period July 2013 to December 2014, 1.0 FTE indicates a workload of 300 person-days.

For an overview of and further details on staffing and resource requirements, please see Annex IV.

2.7 Quality assurance

EEA internal quality assurance

First Internal EEA consultation, focus on annotated outline – January 2014

Dedicated EEA Staff Workshop on SOER 2015 Synthesis – April 2014

Second Internal EEA consultation two weeks before Eionet – 2 weeks in early May 2014

Third Internal EEA consultation in parallel with Eionet consultation – May / June 2014

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EEA stakeholder consultation and Eionet review

2 stakeholder workshops to harvest perspectives on prospects for the environment (see above)

Scientific Committee meeting in autumn 2013 to discuss outline

EEA Management Board Seminar to discuss strategic direction – 25 or 26 March 2014

Formal Eionet consultation of First Draft Report – May / June 2014

Scientific Committee meeting in spring 2014 to discuss reflections

2.8 Meetings

External meetings

Two dedicated stakeholder workshops are foreseen, geared towards discussing the prospects for the

environment in Europe and the scope for societal and environmental transitions to meet long-term

visions (e.g. as laid out in the EU’s environment action programme).

The objectives for this stakeholder engagement process are:

spark discussions on perspectives on the prospects of the environment in Europe;

reflect on the various long-term environmental visions and their implications;

discuss how a transition to the long-term ambitions of the European Union could be achieved;

specify the need for a knowledge base for the transition.

These workshops will involve a limited number (about 35) of selected societal stakeholders, ideally

the same stakeholders would return for both workshops. Participation is by invitation only. For this

we will seek to invite individuals in their personal capacity from different domains, see below.

Domain Category/Actor How many stakeholders (circa)?

Policy European Commission 4

European Parliament 2

Member States Governments 3

International Organisations 1

Subtotal 10

Civil society and local / regional

governance

NGOs and other societal actors 5

Local and regional governance 3

Subtotal 8

Business and industry Business organisations 4

Companies 4

Subtotal 8

Research and free thinkers Researchers and think tanks 5

Free thinkers (wildcards) 4

Subtotal 9

TOTAL 35

SOER 2015 Stakeholder Workshop 1 – 9/10 November 2013 – will focus on ‘brainstorming’ (i.e. with

the aim to discuss a range of stakeholder perspectives on long-term environmental prospects).

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SOER 2015 Stakeholder Workshop 2 – 6/7 February 2014 - focus on ‘consolidating’ (i.e. with the aim

to further reflect and refine the outcomes of the first workshop).

Internal meetings

EEA Management Board Seminar – 25 or 26 March 2014

EEA Staff Workshop on SOER 2015 Synthesis – XX April 2014 (to be decided)

2.9 Links with and dependencies on other SOER 2015 parts

The Synthesis depends on other SOER 2015 parts to provide a basis for the analysis. The suggested

timeline depends, amongst other things, on:

Focus of Part B is agreed upon by December 2013, ideally November 2013;

Advanced draft Part A fiches are available for MB seminar, i.e. by Mid-March 2014;

Advanced draft Part B fiches are available for MB seminar, i.e. by Mid-March 2014;

Cross-country comparisons of Part C are available by Mid-March 2014;

Final country fiches are available by June 2014.

2.10 Detailed timeline and key steps

2013 Synthesis stakeholder process Synthesis drafting process

Jul Contract Stakeholder Support Contract Agreement Background Analysis

Aug Send official invitations to Stakeholders

Sep

Oct

Nov Finalise Workshop 1 Agenda

Dec SOER 2015 Stakeholder Workshop 1 Zero Draft Synthesis Report (Annotated Outline)


Jan Finalise Workshop 2 Agenda Eionet Feedback on Annotated Outline

Feb SOER 2015 Stakeholder Workshop 2

Finalise Management Board Seminar Agenda

Mar EEA Management Board Seminar – 25/26 Mar 2014

Apr EEA Staff Workshop on SOER 2015 First Draft Synthesis Report

May Eionet Consultation

Jun Eionet Consultation

Jul Final discussions at respective MB/SC/NFP meets Final comments from EEA stakeholder

Aug

Sep Final Draft Synthesis Report

Oct Lay-out & Translations start

Nov Lay-out

Dec Printing of EN/FR/DE version (others may come later)


Jan Launch events focussed on Synthesis report Final Version Synthesis Report (ready for publication)

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3 SOER 2015 Part A – The European environment in a global context


Part A of the SOER 2015 consists primarily of an update of the ‘Assessment of Global Megatrends’

report published under the SOER 2010 umbrella, i.e. it will focus on the 11 global megatrends

already identified and analysed for the SOER 2010 process. The reason for this is that the same

global megatrends addressed in 2010 remain central to the discussion today: by their nature,

megatrends are stable over longer time periods.

However, it is worth noting that compared to the SOER 2010 analysis, the aim is to focus more on

the inter-linkages between megatrends and their implications for Europe’s environmental policy and

related long term objectives.


The main aim of this part is to provide a backdrop for understanding the state of the environment in

Europe in a longer-term and global context; with a focus on a 2050 perspective (and beyond this for

selected issues) – and to thus provide relevant and credible input into stakeholder discussions.


To provide relevant insights for strategic planning and decision-making (within the European

Union and beyond the EU/European setting; for environmental policies and related policies).

To identify main drivers5 of change at global level, and provide a long term perspective on

changes that most likely will impact Europe’s environment but are outside of its direct control.

To provide evidence about the changing nature of environmental challenges, as well as their

drivers, inter-linkages and uncertainties - and subsequently the implications for our assessment

and accounting tools and our policy.

To help identifying potential emerging issues.


Part A is primarily targeted towards informing ‘strategic decision-making’ both within and beyond

the environmental community, and both inside and outside Europe. It provides for those that want

to get an overview of key external factors that might affect the success of environmental policies

and related decisions. This includes policy makers as well as civil society.

5 As related to social, technological, economic, environmental and governance megatrends.

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Bureau for European Policy Advisors (BEPA), in particular the on-going process ESPAS "European

Strategy and Policy Analysis System” they coordinate;

Commissioners’ cabinets – especially those responsible for ENV, CLIMA, ENTR, RTD and others;

Director General (or their advisors) – especially in DGs ENV, CLIMA, ENTR, RTD, JRC, ESTAT and

others;

NGOs dealing with strategic EU policy (such as Friends of Europe and Asia-Europe Foundation);

Global Legislators' Organisation (GLOBE International / GLOBE EU) as well as Members of the

European Parliament and national parliamentarians.

Furthermore, the assessments of various global megatrends presented in Part A is likely to be

relevant to and spark interest among a broader audience willing to reflect on environmental

challenges is a broader socio-economic context.

3.4 Deliverables

Part A should deliver a minimum of 11 fiches (see table below), building on to the 11 megatrends

identified and discussed in the SOER 2010 –the respective 2010 versions will be ‘updated’ for 2015

and focus will be on possible implications for Europe. The 11 global megatrends discussed include 8

‘Non Environmental GMTs’ (referring to social, technological, economy or governance trends) as well

as 3 ‘Environmental GMTs’.

Note that ‘updating’ here refers to bringing in the latest figures available for the indicators used,

using or adding other relevant indicators currently available, and changing the text accordingly.

Global Megatrends (GMT) in 2015 Corresponding Global Megatrends in SOER 2010

Social

1. Demography related GMT 1. Increasing global divergence in population trends

2. Urbanisation related GMT 2. Living in an urban world: spreading cities and spiralling consumption

3. Health related GMT 3. Changing patterns of global disease burdens and the risk of new pandemics

Technology

4. Technology related GMT 4. Accelerating technologies

Economy

5. Growth related GMT 5. Continued economic growth

6. Trade related GMT 6. Global power shifts – from a uni-polar to a multi-polar world

7. Competition related GMT 7. Intensified global competition for resources

Environment

8. Resource scarcity related GMT 8. Decreasing stocks of natural resources

9. Climate related GMT 9. Increasing severity of the consequences of climate change

10. Pollution related GMT 10. Increasing unsustainable environmental pollution load

Governance

11. International treaties related GMT 11. Environmental régulation and governance : increasing fragmentation and

convergence

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SOER 2015 In Print - Part A GMT Fiches

In print, Part A will consist of a minimum of 11 fiches, one per each of the global megatrends. The

format, length and style will be similar to the SOER 2010 edition – however the 11 global

megatrends will be presented as 4 pages fiches, with an average of 2 to 3 indicator-based graphs or

figures per fiche.

SOER 2015 Online – Part A

SOER 2015 Online will possibly include a system maps presentation of the 11 GMT as well as all the

fiches as pages within the proposed SOER 2015 Online platform. Within this potential the links to

related thematic (Part B) and country-level (Part C) information will be developed further.

This should be complemented with links to indicators that relate to the global megatrends discussed

in the GMT fiches, such as those included in the EEA’s Forward Looking Information System (FLIS).


For (a) ‘Non Environmental GMTs’ (i.e. 8 Fiches) the main source of information are the assessments

already presented in SOER 2010 Assessment of Global Megatrends, with updated data based on the

sources of indicators (such as JRC, IEA, IIASA, UN OECD, etc.). This may be complemented with

additional sources and information, as relevant indicated in the EEA 2013 publication plan.

For (b) ‘Environmental GMTs’ (i.e. 3 Fiches) the main source of information will be the assessments

presented in the SOER 2010 Part A and their underpinning information sources; complemented

using more recent EEA information and related indicators within the EEA’s thematic indicator sets.

These may become available in 2014.


The GMT fiches will be drafted by a GMT Fiches Drafting Team, comprising 4 to 5 lead authors (from

the IEA programme) plus editorial support (from the Communications programme). In addition,

especially as regards the three ‘Environmental GMTs’, contributions from and interaction with other

EEA staff will be sought (primarily from thematic experts in the ACC, IEA and NSV programmes).

Staffing - Who? Estimated staff involvement (*)

SOER 2015 Part A Team (drafting and editing) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part A – Contributors to GMT updating, analysis and drafting 0.4 FTE

SOER 2015 Part A – Other EEA involvement (e.g. IT support, fiche design, etc.) 0.1 FTE

TOTAL 1.5 FTE




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As we are aiming to ensure coherence regarding the focus, format, length and style of assessment of

global megatrends as presented in SOER 2010, the overall approach and selection of topics has

already been quality assured and confirmed through the previous report.

Nevertheless, there is a need to quality assure the updates of the global megatrends and their

interpretation into dedicated fiches. This will be done through the usual EEA consultation

mechanisms as well as via discussions with a dedicated advisory group (see below).


The full set of 11 global megatrend fiches will be shared internally prior to an Eionet consultation

– 2 weeks in early May 2014;

Interaction with thematic experts during the GMT updating process, especially as regards the 3

Environmental Megatrends (to ensure coherence with general EEA analysis and messaging).

Ad-hoc consultation with thematic expert whenever relevant (e.g. energy, health, chemicals, etc.)


An Advisory Group (including experts from IIASA; JRC; OECD; BEPA nominees) will be established

to help review global megatrends - especially for the 8 Non-Environmental GMTs

(note this approach is analogous to the SOER 2010 approach);

The full set of 11 global megatrend fiches will be subject to an Eionet and Scientific Committee

consultation – May/June 2014;

The NRC-FLIS network will be consulted regarding background studies and draft versions of the

GMT fiches, as appropriate.

3.8 Meetings

External meetings

One external advisory group meeting – see above (Nov/ Dec 201 or Jan/Feb 2014).

Internal meetings

Several meetings of GMT Drafting Team (ca. 4 meetings in 2013);

Several meetings of GMT Drafting Team & Contributors (ca. 10 meetings in 2013 and 2014).

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3.9 Links with and dependencies on other SOER 2015 parts

The GMT fiches are a building block towards the SOER 2015 Stakeholder Process and the Synthesis

report drafting; thus advanced draft Part A fiches (‘zero drafts’) will be available for the MB seminar,

i.e. by mid-March 2014.

The GMT updating and analysis (especially related to the ‘Non-Environmental GMTs’) provide

contextual information about socio-economic trends that might otherwise not readily available in an

EEA context – this can provide an input to Part B related analyses and thematic fiches, as needed.

The GMT analysis presented regarding ‘Environmental GMTs’ need to be cross-checked against

similar information in related Part B thematic fiches.

If country fiches in Part C include information on global megatrends (this is likely for some countries

only), then this should be checked for consistency with the analysis presented in Part A GMT fiches.


The updating and analysis of global megatrend and related background analysis will be done

progressively, as indicated below. The updates on ‘Non Environmental GMTs’ (i.e. social, economic,

technological and governance megatrends, GMT 1-7 & 11) are scheduled to be delivered from July

2013 to March 2014. The updates on ‘Environmental GMTs’ (GMT 8-10) will prepared between

November 2013 and May 2014 (based also on internal discussions).

These updates of global megatrends provide the basis for drafting the GMT fiches.

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2013 Part A – GMT updating & analysis Part A – GMT Fiches

Jul

Aug

Sep

Draft update of GMT 5, 6, 7

(i.e. related to Economic GMTs)

Draft structure for GMT fiches

Oct Draft update of GMT 1, 2, 3, 4

(i.e. related to Social GMTs and technological)

Nov Draft update of GMT 8 and GMT 10 pollution

(i.e. natural resources, based on NSV and ACC2

input)

Final structure for GMT fiches

Dec

2014 Part A – GMT updating & analysis Part A – GMT Fiches

Jan

Advisory group meeting?

Feb Draft update of GMT 11

(i.e. on governance)

Mar Draft update of GMT 9

(i.e. on climate change, based on ACC3 input)

Zero Draft GMT fiches as input to MB seminar

(based on the respective GMT updates)

Apr First Draft GMT fiches

(based on the respective GMT updates)

May

EIONET consultation

Jun

EIONET consultation

Jul

Final Draft of all 11 GMT fiches

Aug

LAY-OUT

Sep

LAY-OUT

Oct

LAY-OUT

Nov

Final update/correction of numbers

Dec

2015 Part A – GMT updating process Part A – GMT Fiches

Jan

Publication of Full Set of GMT fiches

Note: The publication of updated GMT – i.e. updates of the GMT information in the SOER 2010 Part A – is already foreseen

in the 2013 Publication Plan.

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4 SOER 2015 Part B – European-level thematic SOE information


Part B will comprise 20 to 30 brief summaries of key environmental themes providing an overview of

the European environment’s status and trends. These will be delivered via two main outputs, as

printed SOER 2015 thematic fiches (i.e. 4-page briefings) and within SOER 2015 Online. The Part B

structure in 2015 will thus differ somewhat from that employed in SOER 2010, which addressed 13

topics with 40-page summaries.

A key aim of this approach to providing European-level information on state of and trends in

different environmental topics is to build on and avoid the duplication of the EEA’s existing annual

reporting work. Thus SOER 2015 provides a gateway to EEA’s environmental knowledge base.


The main aim of this part is to provide an overview of the state of environment at European level for

a selection of key environmental themes – and to publish accessible and credible environmental

information. This should build on and complement the on-going assessment work across the EEA.


To provide a comprehensive thematic overview of the European environment’s status, trends

(and prospects) to support European decision-making and implementation of European

environmental policies.

To cluster and summarise EEA knowledge on key environmental challenges and themes in a

concise and accessible format, serving as an entry point to the more detailed data, indicators

and assessments in the EEA information and knowledge base.

To provide a baseline for policy debates on specific environmental issues, based on the 2020

objectives set out in the general Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 (‘7EAP’).


The audience for SOER 2015 Part B are specialists, and informed or interested non-specialists, that

want to get a short overview of policy context, successes, and challenges of specific environmental

issues. The primary target audience of Part B are therefore EU decision-makers6 and EU policy-

influencers7 with an interest in thematic environmental issues – such as:

6 Decision-makers are those who review policy options to negotiate and decide on new or revised policies, based on work

and evidence provided by policy-influencers. 7 Policy-influencers can be those who review and assess evidence to produce policy options for decision-makers or those

who influence decision-makers towards deciding on their preferred policy options (e.g. pressure groups).

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Commissioners for the environment, climate action, transport, industry, energy, [thematic

portfolios based on the current distribution]; and their respective cabinets;

Members of the European Parliament’s ENVI, ITRE, TRAN, AGRI, REGI, and PECH committees

[thematic committees based on the current distribution] – as well as European Parliament

Library and Documentary Management [prepares individualised briefings for MEPs];

Heads of the European Parliament’s ENVI, ITRE, TRAN, AGRI, REGI, and PECH Committee

Secretariats;

Directors-General, Directors and thematic experts in DGs ENV, CLIMA, MOVE, ENER, TRAN, AGRI,

REGI, MARE, SANCO, ENTR, JRC, RTD, ESTAT [for the European Commission], DGs IPOL [for the

European Parliament] and DG I [for the Council of the European Union];

Environment attachés at the Permanent Representations of the EU Member States and at

Missions to the European Union of the remaining EEA member countries;

SOER 2015 Online will provide a vehicle for attracting ‘second tier’ audiences with SOER 2015 Part B

to EEA’s thematic web-pages, indicators, reports and assessments. These audiences include NGOs

specialised in thematic areas (notably Green 10 NGOs), journalists (especially Brussels-based

correspondents of lead media), Brussels-based think tanks and foundations such as the European

Climate Foundation, and academics and students.

4.4 Deliverables

SOER 2015 In Print – Part B Thematic Fiches

A collection of 20 to 30 4-page thematic fiches produced in paper format for delivering to target

audiences. The structure of these, and the topics they address, will be decided upon in 2013.

Possible structure of a 4-page thematic ‘fiches’ (for further discussion) Summary (1/2 page)

EU Policy context (1/2 page)

State of, trends in, prospects for theme (1 page)

Box: A key indicator (1/2 page, including country breakdown, if possible)

State of action (successes / challenges ahead) (1/2 page)

Key links to other environmental challenges (1/2 page)

Overview of related EEA indicators / reports (1/2 page)

Note: Each of these four-page ’fiches’ should be linked one or several up-to-date thematic web-site, including up-to-date

indicators.

SOER 2015 Online – Part B

SOER 2015 will include a presentation of the thematic fiches as pages within the proposed SOER

2015 Online platform. This online presentation play an important role as it integrates the Part B

content, enabling users to explore other themes and SOER 2015 products and to access more

detailed information in the EEA knowledge base. It also allows integration with global (Part A) and

country-level (Part C) analysis.

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SOER 2015 Part B will build on and complement the on-going reporting and assessment work in the

thematic groups across the EEA. Part B summaries will summarise the existing EEA knowledge base

(including existing or on-going work).

Key sources for SOER 2015 Part B include EEA indicators, related fact sheets, as well as annual

reporting and assessment processes such as the air quality and TERM reports8. In exceptional cases

fiches can be based on other EEA information or information based on officially reported data. In

such cases, it is the responsibility of the respective thematic groups to assure and control data

quality and to ensure the thematic fiche will present credible, relevant, legitimate and accessible

evidence.


Within the EEA, the contributors will primarily be project managers in ACC, NSV and IEA, with

editorial support from IEA and COM, and IT support from SES and OSE. A thematic project manager

will be assigned lead for each of the fiches, which will be coordinated with the program

representative in the SOER 2015 team.


SOER 2015 Part B Team (analysis, drafting and editing) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part B – Additional thematic input, indicator and analytical support 0.4 FTE

SOER 2015 Part B – Other EEA involvement (e.g. IT support, fiche design, etc.) 0.1 FTE

TOTAL 1.5 FTE






Since Part B content summarises existing EEA analyses, the inputs should already be factually robust.

Particular attention has however to be paid to quality assurance and control in the development of

the contributions to Part B.


Further quality assurance comes from the interaction of project managers and editorial support, and

subsequent Eionet (etc.) review.

8 An overview of these will be provided by the EEA based on the EEA Publication Plan by January 2014.

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4.8 Meetings

No additional external meetings are foreseen in the development of SOER 2015 Part B.

4.9 Links with and dependencies on other parts

The Part B fiches will feed into the SOER 2015 Synthesis and drafts should therefore be ready before

main drafting periods of the Synthesis.

Indicators used to underpin the cross-country comparisons fiches in Part C and the thematic fiches in

Part B should be consistent, ideally the same indicators will be used in both.


The milestones and deliverables for delivering SOER 2015 Part B are as follows:

I. Creating a template: The SOER 2015 Part B Team develops a common template for thematic

fiches, suited to both print and online presentation. The template will help thematic experts /

project managers structure their contributions, and maintain a consistent length and style

across themes. While this standardized template will guide the drafting of all thematic fiches it

should be flexible enough to allow adaptation to the specifics within different themes as

needed (and it should not limit the selection of topics).

II. Agreeing on topics: The final selection of topics will be agreed with EEA’s programmes and

shared with Eionet. In line with the approach and objectives outlined above, the themes should

be selected based on an assessment of the extent to which they fulfil the following four criteria:

a) are they relevant to European policy, in particular the priorities set out in the 7th EAP and the

Europe 2020 strategy?

b) do they collectively provide a reasonably comprehensive overview of the European

environment’s status, trends and prospects?

c) do we have indicators to support an analysis of the issue?

d) do they help succinctly explain key concepts and themes that are used in SOER 2015?

Based on these criteria, the selection could, for example, include:

sectors (e.g. transport, agriculture)

ecosystem status (e.g. water flows, biodiversity, adaptation)

pressures (e.g. chemicals, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions)

societal drivers and impacts (e.g. consumption, environment and health, climate change)

concepts (e.g. green economy, ecosystem services)

III. Circular to NFP/Eionet, DGs ENV, CLIMA, ESTAT, JRC and RTD: informing them about EEA’s

intentions and requirements for data inputs in SOER 2015 Part B – to the extent possible.

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IV. (a) updating indicators, (b) identifying thematic reports and assessments of relevance, and

(c) developing content: based on the template, indicators, thematic reports and assessments,

the content of SOER 2015 Part B will be developed via an iterative collaboration of project

managers and editorial support (provided by SOER 2015 Part B co-leads in ACC, IEA and NSV, and

COM editors) to ensure high quality and consistent communications based on relevant

indicators. The content will be presented in a way that allows for updates to be easily integrated.

V. Eionet consultation: draft fiches to be distributed to Eionet for comment.

VI. Draft final: draft final fiches developed based on Eionet feedback.

VII. Design of outputs: print and digital outputs related to SOER 2015 Part B should be well

designed and presented. Some design will be undertaken by external consultants under the

direction of OSE and COM, and in consultation with the Part B co-leaders.

VIII. Final update: with most recent data so that officially reported data in SOER 2015 Part B is no

older than 2013 (year of publication minus two) – to the extent possible.

IX. Final outputs: SOER 2015 Part B content must be finalised well in advance of the publication

date to allow the production of the print and digital outputs. In a few cases where regular

thematic reports are produced in the second half of the year, it will be necessary to make

provisions for late updates to the Part B content.

2013 Part B – Thematic Fiches

Jul

Aug

Sep I. Draft template and

II. Draft Selection of fiches/agreeing on topics

Oct III. Circular to NFP/Eionet, DGs ENV, CLIMA, ESTAT, JRC and RTD / Eionet Feedback

Nov Final selection of topics / final outline of thematic fiches

Dec


Jan IV. (a) updating indicators, (b) identifying thematic reports and assessments of relevance

Feb IV. (c) developing content/ drafting of fiches

Mar V. Eionet consultation

Apr Eionet consultation continues

May

Jun IV. Draft final

Jul VII. Design of outputs

Aug

Sep

Oct VIII. Final updates

Nov IX. Final outputs

Dec


Jan Publication

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5 SOER 2015 Part C – Country-level SOE information


The overall aim of SOER 2015 Part C is to provide an overview of and make accessible - at EU-Level -

state of environment information available at the country level – and link these to a European level

analysis. This has the potential to show that Europe has, through the strong common environmental

policy framework, worked to deliver environmental improvements for the benefit for its citizens.

The European level analysis will enable the comparison of countries while also providing information

about different national circumstances relevant to understanding the state of environment and

progress towards successful environmental policy implementation. It should also allow illustration of

specific national environmental challenges and response measures relevant to the European setting.

In SOER 2005, Part C comprised a country analysis and scorecard of relative country performance

based on 9 indicators from the EEA Core Set of Indicators. SOER 2010 Part C comprised country

assessments which included country profiles, covered common thematic areas whilst offering

flexibility to highlight national or regional environmental issues of particular interest to countries.

The approach in SOER 2015 Part C draws on both these and will comprise of country fiches, as well

as cross-country comparison fiches based on selected EEA indicators. In addition, Part C will also

allow interested countries to provide a link to their respective country level information and

indicators (using SENSE).


The main aim of this part is to provide an overview of and make accessible state of environment

information available at the country level – and link these to the European level.

More specifically, Part C has three objectives which relate to the three dimensions of the activities,

namely, information provision; benchmarking and comparison; and putting in place effective

systems:

To provide interested parties with comparable, accurate and timely information on

environmental status in EEA member and cooperating countries that provides useful input into

national environmental policy debates of Europe-wide relevance. (‘Information provision’).

To demonstrate country performance and enable the user/reader to compare countries with

others. (‘Benchmarking and comparison’).

To provide national SOE information in an accessible and comparable way that is efficiently and

effectively integrated into SOE online and presented in SOER 2015 Online. (‘Effective systems’).

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Part C is primarily targeted towards specialists, and informed or interested non-specialists, that want

to get an overview of the state of environment in different countries, and compare approaches

across countries. Therefore it is also targeted at policy makers both at the European and the national

with an interest to look across countries for peer-to-peer learning and policy implementation.


Directors and other high level decision makers responsible for EU policy in EU level;

National-level parliamentarians and decision makers, seeking to see European comparisons;

Desk officers at DG ENV (and other relevant DGs);

Committee of Regions and other European policy bodies with regional focus

NFP/Eionet (including EEA) – i.e. to foster cross-country learning and sharing of good practice.

In addition, there is a broader range of second tier audiences and users of the SOER 2015 Part C, for

whom it provides a resource that can be used in their work and would be accessed through SOER

2015 Online. These include National and European NGOs, the research community and

environmental journalists.

5.4 Deliverables

SOER 2015 In Print – Part C: Country fiches

A (i.e. one per country) 4 -page fiche for each EEA member and cooperating country will provide a

summary of the respective national SOE report(s). EEA suggests that each fiche will be made

available in English and only upon request in the respective national language(s). Furthermore, the

updated SERIS (State of the Environment Report Information System) will offer an overview and

direct link to related SOE reports.

To ensure comparability across country fiches, EEA will provide a template, guidance and editorial

support for implementing the country fiches. The guidance will provide an explanation of the

questions and illustrative examples. This will help ensure that comparable issues are covered by

each country, but should also enable the inclusion of issues of particular interest for countries,

reflecting different country realities.

Part C: Regional fiches for the Southern and Eastern European Neighbourhood, and the Arctic?

In addition to the 39 country fiches, there is scope to add a limited number of regional fiches that provide a summary of

the state of environment in the European Neighbourhood – for example, focussing on the Arctic, the Mediterranean, the

Black Sea, or the Baltic Sea. Alternatively, these may address other regional groupings in the Eastern and Southern

European Neighbourhood. Either way, these regional fiches should be published as a coherent set.

Such regional fiches would follow the same logic and template as the country fiches, i.e. only build on existing regional SOE

reports and assessments and summarise these as appropriate, rather than developing new dedicated assessments. Note

that regional fiches, if included in SOER 2015, would be drafted by EEA in cooperation with relevant regional networks.

Whether to include regional fiches, and the selection of possible regions requires further discussion.

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SOER 2015 In Print – Part C: Cross-country comparison fiches

For each of 8-10 selected thematic areas, EEA will produce a 4-page cross-country comparison fiche

based on a subset of the EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI) that includes information at country level.

EEA will use criteria to select the indicators adapted from those used in SENSE-2 (see section 5.11) in

conjunction with EEA indicator managers and thematic experts.

The selection of topics to cover and indicators to use in cross-country comparison fiches will be

coordinated with the selection of topics in SOER 2015 Part B. The cross-country comparison fiches

are not thematic fiches but focus on country comparisons using a single indicator for each area and

so are complementary to the Part B fiches.

EEA will also consider a 4-page summary fiche that presents the information for all indicators in a

single table for quick reference (note: this will not attempt to provide a ‘summary indicator’ or an

overall scorecard to rank country performances).

SOER 2015 Online – Part C: Country level information and indicators

In addition to making all of the above fiches available online, Part C will allow for making links to

national level environmental indicators through SENSE (Shared European and National State of the

Environment) technology for interested countries. This will offer a country-level perspective of

environmental performance and add detail to underpin the cross-country comparison fiche(s), as

well as providing additional information beyond that presented in the country fiche(s).

The information delivered through SENSE is voluntary, and will be of the sole responsibility of the

EEA member and cooperating countries.


The main information sources for Part C are the National SOE reports (registered in SERIS) and

indicators (including those that are made available via SENSE); and selected EEA indicators which

include a country breakdown.


The overall production of the Part C will be coordinated by the EEA Part C Team consisting of

representatives from GAN, IEA and SES Programmes.

Country fiches are to be drafted by respective country representatives in Eionet (preferably the

authors of the respective national SOE reports) with support from the EEA Part C team, EEA Country

Desk Officers (CDO) and EEA editors where appropriate.

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Regional fiches, if included, could be drafted by the EEA, in cooperation between the GAN and EDO

programmes – building on existing regional SOE reports and building on cooperation with those

responsible for the respective reporting and assessment processes (e.g. ‘Plan Bleu Horizon 2020’).

The cross-country comparison fiches will be drafted by EEA IEA programme expert(s) with support

from the Part C team and relevant EEA thematic experts/indicator managers.

SOER 2015 Part C - EEA contribution

Staffing Who? Estimated staff involvement

SOER 2015 Part C Team (coordination, analysis and drafting) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part C – Thematic input, indicator and analytical support, editing 0.8 FTE

SOER 2015 Part C – Other EEA involvement (e.g. IT support, fiche design, etc.) 0.2 FTE

TOTAL 2.0 FTE



SOER 2015 Part C - Eionet contribution per country

Staffing – Who? Role Days, i.e. mid-13 to end-14

NRC-SOE/NFPs

Drafting country fiches 10 (i.e. 10 days per fiche)

Review of cross-country comparisons 5 (i.e. 0.5 day per fiche)

SERIS updating and related work 1 to 5

TOTAL 15 to 20 days (per country)

Note: This assumes a total of up to 10 days per country fiche.




Country fiches – the information sources come from quality approved national SOE reports and

the country fiches will be reviewed by the Part C team and EEA Country Desk Officers (CDO)

network.

Cross-country comparison fiches – indicator managers and the Part C team will review the draft

cross-country comparison fiches.


Cross-country comparison fiches – Eionet review of draft cross-country comparison fiches.

5.8 Meetings

In addition to regular online communication, the implementation of SOER 2015 Part C will be

discussed at regular NFP/Eionet, NRC SOE and NRC EIS meetings in 2013 and 2014. In addition, one

special joint meeting of NFPs and NRC-SOE on drafts of Part C in spring 2014 might be considered.

Internal bilateral meetings with indicator managers, editors and CDOs will be organised as needed.

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While the Synthesis and Part A can draw on Part C, Part C is more explicitly linked to Part B

through the indicators, in particular the cross-country comparison.

Ideally the selection of indicators highlighted in thematic fiches in Part B and in cross-country

comparison fiches in Part C will be consistent.

Where country fiches address global megatrends, the overall coherence with Part A needs to be

checked.

Part B can also use the country fiches to add a more detailed perspective to its European level

analyses.

There is no need for an explicit link between the cross-country comparison and country fiches as

long as a mechanism to add country perspectives to cross-country comparison in SOER 2015

Online is in place.

SOER 2015 Online will have an online tool that enables user interaction.

The SENSE-3 project will facilitate the provision of country level information and indicators,

including possible mappings to a selected subset of EEA CSI. This information will be used to (i)

extend the country fiches with links to EEA CSI interpretations; and (ii) connect country

comparisons with national interpretations.

The SENSE-3 project plan has been aligned with the timetable presented in this implementation

plan.


Country fiches

I. Development of a template - the template will specify a maximum overall word count for the

fiche. Draft questions for the sections include:

What main areas/issues/themes are addressed in the national SOE report?

What were the key findings?

What are the main challenges / environmental concerns in your country?

What country specific issues in SOE would you like to highlight? This can include the

environmental political agenda, include green economy, forward looking information and

scenarios, regional issues etc.

EEA suggests that the working language for fiche development is English.

Cross-country comparison fiches

By mid-September EEA will propose a draft choice of indicators, methodological approach for

comparison and mechanism for adding a country perspective.

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I. Indicator selection - Criteria used to select indicators will be based on, amongst others, those used

in SENSE-2, e.g.:

The indicator should be available in the Indicator Management System (IMS);

The indicator should be published on the EEA website;

The indicator should cover all EEA-33 countries, and preferably also address EEA cooperating

countries;

The indicator should be updated regularly;

National-level information should be available for at least one graph;

The indicator should be policy relevant;

The indicator should ideally be part of the EEA Core Set of Indicators;9

The indicator should preferably be included in a Part B thematic fiche (where relevant).

Which cross-country comparison indicators? - In the SENSE 2 project10

nine indicators have been used - these provide a

starting point for selection of indicators in an SOER 2015 context. An overview of the indicators used in SOER 2005 and

SENSE-2 are provided in the table below. Further analysis is required before proposing a final draft list of indicators - based

on the current review of the CSI and the eventual selection of the Part B topics.

SOER 2005 Part C indicators SENSE-2 indicators SOER 2015 Part C indicators

CSI 001 Emissions of acidifying

substances

CSI 001 Emissions of acidifying

substances

Indicator(s) on air (?)

CSI 002 Emissions of ozone precursors CSI 002 Emissions of ozone precursors

CSI 003 Emissions of primary

particulate matter and secondary

particulate matter

CSI 008 Designated areas Indicator(s) on biodiversity (?)

CSI 010 Greenhouse gas emissions CSI 010 Greenhouse gas emission

trends

Indicator(s) on climate change (?)

CSI 011 Greenhouse gas emissions

projections

CSI 016 Municipal waste generation Indicator(s) on waste (?)

CSI 018 Use of freshwater resources CSI 018 Use of freshwater resources Indicator(s) on freshwater (?)

Indicator(s) on marine & coasts (?)

CSI 028 Total energy consumption CSI 029 Primary energy consumption

by fuel

Indicator(s) on energy (?)

CSI 031 Renewable electricity

CSI 036 Freight transport demand Indicator(s) on transport (?)

CSI 033 Aquaculture production Indicator(s) on maritime activities (?)

CSI 026 Area under organic farming Indicator(s) on agriculture (?)

Ideally the selection of indicators highlighted in thematic fiches in Part B and in cross-country

comparison fiches in Part C will be consistent. The final selection of indicators will thus be carried

out in conjunction with EEA thematic experts and indicator managers.

II. Cross-country comparison methodology - the methodology used to compare countries is

indicator dependent, thus a range of methodologies will be used including assessment of relative

performance, distance to target and performance over time. All these approaches are currently used

9 The choice of Part C indicators should be consistent with outcomes of the on-going EEA indicator review and CSI refresh.

10 See Table 2.4 of the document Lessons learned and recommendations from SENSE-2

http://forum.eionet.europa.eu/nrc-state-environment/library/nrc-soe-meetings/nrc-soe-workshop-2013/meeting-documents/doc-08-sense-2-report-sharing-environmental-indicators-eionet-linked-data/download/1/Doc%2008%20-%20SENSE%202%20report%2C%20Sharing%20environmental%20indicators%20in%20Eionet%20with%20Linked%20Data%20principles.pdf?action=view

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in EEA indicator assessments. The cross-country comparison will be presented using an approach

and legend similar to that used in the SOER 2010 Synthesis and Indicator Report 2012.

A mechanism for adding a country perspective/interpretation to the cross-country comparison fiches

will be developed – for example by extending the fiche’s SOER 2015 Online presentation with

options to complement the European analysis with country information. This can be done, for

example, by (1) providing no comments; (2) a country interpretation only or (3) a country

interpretation and link to the national indicator via SENSE (or another mechanism). Decisions are still

required on whether the SOER 2015 Online links to outside information or this information feeds in;

and how country perspectives can be represented in an offline version.

The proposed list of indicators, methodological approach for comparison and mechanism for adding

a country perspective will be shared / discussed with NRC-SOE and presented to the October

NFP/Eionet meeting for final agreement.

2013 Part C - Country fiches Part C - Cross-country comparison fiches

Jul

Aug

Sep Draft templates and guidance Draft list of indicators and methodology

Oct NRC-SOE/NFP feedback & agreement NRC-SOE/NFP feedback & agreement

Nov Final templates and guidance Final list of indicators and methodology

Dec Drafting of country fiches (countries) Drafting cross- country comparison (EEA)


Jan Drafting of country fiches (countries) Drafting cross- country comparison (EEA)

Feb Drafting of country fiches (countries) EEA Internal QA

Mar Draft country fiches sent to EEA Eionet consultation

Apr EEA review and editing of country fiches Eionet consultation & NFP/NRC-SOE discussion

May EEA review and editing of country fiches Country interpretation & link to SENSE

Jun Final country fiches (countries to EEA) Final draft cross-country comparison

Jul Prepare for publication on SOER 2015 Online Prepare for publication on SOER 2015 Online

Aug

Sep

Oct Final update of information where necessary

Nov

Dec


Jan Launch / publication throughout 2015 Publication

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6 SOER 2015 Online


SOER 2015 Online is a web-based platform, which brings together SOER 2015’s many components to

provide a coherent and integrated account of Europe’s environment. SOER 2015 Online will take the

user from a narrative overview to EEA indicators in an accessible and guided manner.

A key added value of this online platform with regard to the SOER 2015 In Print will be the

interconnectivity between the Synthesis, Part A, Part B and Part C, enabling users to move

seamlessly between EEA’s, country and thematic information (with a unique visual identity). In

addition, the information presented in SOER 2015 can be shown in a mobile application (or ‘app’).

Textual content for all parts of SOER 2015 Online will be identical to that in the printed reports;

therefore content should be created with both in mind.

SOER 2015 Online - and - SOE Online

SOER 2015 Online primarily deals with the presentation of the related information, including references to underlying

indicators, graphs, interactive maps and data sets. It will require specific tool support for its development. All content will

be static in the sense that no additional information will be added to SOER 2015 Online after the official release, i.e. new

versions of any SOER 2015 content will be available as a resource from SOE Online (see below), but not directly from SOER

2015 Online. However, elements of SOER 2015 Online for which updated information is available will be extended with a

reference to the respective update.

SOE Online is the infrastructure that supports the exchange and management of SOE information using web technologies,

of which SOER 2015 Online is one user experience product. It is an online element to provide the underpinning content for

environmental reporting and thus also provides a backend to ‘SOER 2015 In Print’ and SOER 2015 Online. The added value

of SOE Online is that it will put in place the foundation for future SOER processes.

Note: See Annex I for further definitions.


As an overall objective, SOER 2015 Online aims to support the fulfilment of the EEA’s obligation to

produce a regular assessment and to communicate that assessment to a broad audience.

This can be broken into three more specific objectives, relating to the integration of EEA work, the

profile of EEA outputs, and the impact on audiences and society:

To deploy the EEA flagship product in a way that provides multiple ways for users to access and

explore content of SOER 2015 components in an integrated and non-linear manner on-line.

To enable access to supporting content and the broader EEA knowledge base, including

interactive maps and graphics, and indicator updates.

To raise the profile of and awareness about SOER 2015, its content and its relationship to EEA

work.

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The online platform will boost SOER 2015’s accessibility beyond the priority audiences of the

individual parts, enabling the EEA to reach some of the ‘second tier’ target groups, such as

environmental journalists, academia and students, environmental NGOs, etc. The web element can

make SOER inclusive and will also include a broad ‘motivated’ public.

The online platform will also enable the key audiences that were already identified for the different

parts of SOER 2015 to move from the elements targeted at them to other areas of SOER 2015 and

deeper into the EEA knowledge base, i.e. also to indicators, graphs, interactive maps and underlying

data sets.

6.4 Deliverables

In line with the objectives, the SOER 2015 Online platform will provide users with an easily

accessible, coherent web experience. It will be situated within the EEA website alongside the rest of

the EEA’s knowledge base but will have a distinctive branding, ensuring that the user knows at all

times they are dealing with SOER information and can move easily to other elements of SOER 2015.

The SOER 2015 Online platform will have a primary entry point — a page providing a short

introduction to the report and a table of contents. The fiches of parts A, B and C are fully integrated

into the EEA content management system to the extent that we will use a template approach in a

‘fiche management system’ for GMT fiches, thematic fiches and country fiches (the software

components will be based on the existing ‘indicator management system’ and ‘article’ templates).

The fiches will be searchable like any other content on the website. The fiches that make up SOER

2015 will be branded with a specific look and feel for the SOER 2015 Online platform. In addition to

the user experience components, the SOER 2015 Online content will – as far as possible – also be

available for third-parties to embed parts into their own web presence as desired (i.e. using an

Resource Description Framework (RDF)).

Cross-referencing: The content in each individual fiche will only link to other SOER 2015 fiches. The

fiches will contain meta-data facilitating dynamic linkages from/to the rest of the EEA portal. This

includes links to indicators, data sets and visualisations.

Note: Where indicators within fiches are updated after the launch they will likewise be available on the indicator part of the

website via links from the SOER 2015 pages. In contrast to an approach based on updating the SOER 2015 pages when new

data and content become available, this approach enables users to access the latest information where available, while

preserving the coherence of the products released at the start of 2015.

The templates and processes for gathering and drafting content across Parts A, B and C should be

designed in a way that supports a web presentation of the content. In addition, the web templates

which will be populated with SOER 2015 content should be designed so as to match the needs of

print and web concurrently (by using an online ‘fiche management system’).

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The Synthesis will be treated as a report published as HTML, PDF, and e-book – as in 2010. In

addition, EEA will consider developing a five minute animation, accessible from the SOER 2015

Online homepage, to convey the key messages from the Synthesis.

A dedicated SOER 2015 Fiche Management System

To facilitate the work on the production of fiches and integration with the IMS, the EEA Content Management System

(CMS) will be extended with a Fiche Management System (FMS). The FMS will allow authorised EEA users to create fiches,

group them by topics and sort them into an online publication (Part A, B or C report). Fiches will go through a defined set of

states, so called workflow, managed by the Fiches Content Editor. Once all fiches are ready, they will be set for Eionet

review. From the FMS we will feed the content to the publication system as shown in the dataflow diagram below:

Key features of this Fiche Management System include:

Content versioning and track changes: All content editing is saved in separate version. This allows editors to have full-

control on the editing process, see difference between revisions and rollback to previous revisions if necessary.

Prevent concurrent writing, automatic locking and unlocking: If content is already under editing from a user, the

system will show a warning and lock the item for editing with possibility to unlock.

Export to E-book: The system will know the sequence of fiches in a publication and can then generate an E-book

including a table of content.

The SOER 2015 Online platform will be accessible from and optimised for mobile devices. The

elements that are presented in the SOER 2015 Online platform should all be packaged in format

suitable to the browsing on such devices. Any product meeting this description will be regarded and

developed as a derivative to the overall SOER 2015 Online presentation.


SOER 2015 Online uses the content of Parts A, B and C and the Synthesis. This content is based on

multiple information sources in the form of indicators and data sets, which can be accessed by users.

The content is further enhanced by interactive graphics and maps which use the same information.

Internet technology, as used in SOER 2015 Online, makes it possible to navigate and consume all of

this content seamlessly.

InDesign layout tool

Fiche Management System

PDF Paper

Raw E-book Raw Text

Web site

E-book layout

E-book

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In addition, we will need support from experts for the categorisation and metadata to create

relevant links to the EEA website. The content provision for Part C will be supported via the SERIS

and SENSE-3 projects, as far as connections to country SOE information are considered. This will

include an indicator catalogue which might be used across Parts B and C.

Note: The ability to create interactive graphs and maps requires access to the numerical data behind the fiches. This should

be the case, because we rely largely on EEA Core Set of Indicators (CSI), but this still has to be ensured.


Who? Estimated staff involvement (*)

SOER 2015 Online Team (development & design) 2.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Online – Contributions and other EEA involvement 0.5 FTE

TOTAL 2.5 FTE



For further detail on staffing and resource requirements, please see Annex IV. Furthermore, an

external contractor will be tasks with the design and branding of SOER 2015 Online.

6.7 Quality assurance and review

Data will be taken from existing EEA data sources. These are quality controlled, so no additional

quality control at the process stage should be required.

With regards to presentation and the online experience, at least two periods of user testing should

be planned for. The first will test the modifications to the content management system and ensure

that the new design and branding function as planned. The second should cover the content in

terms of coherence across the formats, linkages etc.

In order not to delay the required technical development, it would be desirable to provide ‘mock-up’

content for all parts at the beginning of the process. Already today, we should be able to integrate

existing SOE content types and illustrate possible interplays. If we provide examples now, we will

certainly increase the fitness for purpose of SOER 2015 Online.

6.8 Meetings

External meetings

Kick-off design meeting with framework contractor – no later than early September 2013.

Additional meetings with framework contractor to flesh out ideas and present final deliverables.

October-December 2013.

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Internal meetings

4 SES group meetings to discuss input from various areas of the SES programme – Copernicus,

Eye on Earth, INSPIRE etc.

4 OSE group meetings to discuss technical feasibility and development needs (iterative)

Full EEA wide meeting – October 2014


SOER 2015 Online is fully dependent on the successful completion of Parts A, B and C, as well as on

the Synthesis. The SOER 2015 Online process needs to run in parallel and in collaboration with all

parts of SOER 2015. SENSE-3 project inputs will be considered as far as feasible. We will decide on

final inclusion once all input has been collected.


2013 SOER 2015 Online

Jul Proposal for SOER 2015 Online appearance, including ‘mock-up’ of fiches

Aug Develop terms of reference for framework contractor, provide technical development plan

Sep Kick-off meeting with framework contractor

Oct Design work – presentation of initial designs/consultation process

Nov Delivery of final design and branding

Dec Development of templates/wire frames etc. // Begin implementing design/branding


Jan Delivery of templates/wire frames etc.

User testing of CMS updates – first prototype

Feb “

Mar Start uploading of draft fiches and testing of functionalities, including interconnections

Apr “

May “

Jun “

Jul Start uploading of final fiches

Aug “

Sep “

Oct Beta Version - Presentation to EEA

Nov Internal Beta-test

Dec Internal Beta-test


Jan Ready for Publication

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7 SOER 2015 Communication and Dissemination


Knowledge based on independent, high quality information empowers people to develop ideas,

engage in discussions and make decisions that can manage our environment effectively. The

demand for up-to-date environmental information that is easy to understand has grown significantly

and comes from both ‘professional’ users, such as policymakers, and the interested general public.

The SOER 2015 plays an essential role in responding to these needs as it constitutes EEA’s flagship

product, process and activity in terms of satisfying the EEA founding regulation and realising the

Agency’s communications goals. SOER 2015 therefore requires a dedicated communication and

dissemination plan. This will evolve over the course of the project and conclude with a clear plan for

delivery of SOER 2015 and related products during 2014–2015.

Furthermore, an approach for evaluating the SOER 2015 process and outputs – against the

objectives of the different SOER 2015 parts in general, and for the SOER 2015 communication and

dissemination goals in particular – will be developed. This will constitute a key element in an overall

evaluation of SOER 2015.


The overall communications objective of SOER 2015 is to contribute to societal debate on the

prospects for ensuring and maintaining a healthy environment. Policymakers have the biggest

influence in this area and constitute the principle audience of SOER and its communication efforts.

They are not the only audience, however, and the EEA is aware that any policy debate takes place in

the context of and is strongly influenced by a broader ‘public’.

In broad terms, the SOER 2015 communication and dissemination activities will ensure that content

reaches the target audiences at the right time and in the right form to maximise impact and value.

The SOER 2015 communication and dissemination activities have three specific objectives:

To ensure that SOER 2015 and its spin-off products reach the target audiences;

To position SOER 2015 (and by extension the EEA) as an authoritative, policy-relevant resource

for understanding Europe’s environment and its prospects;

To maximise the value and impact of SOER 2015 by identifying and exploiting opportunities to

use SOER 2015 and its derivative products.


As set out in Chapters 2–6 of this document, each part of SOER 2015 has key target audiences. The

communications and dissemination plan will build on this, identifying the precise individuals and

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groups to be targeted for each part, identifying any additional audiences for SOER 2015 as a whole

and ensuring that the wider public is able to access and engage with the outputs.

7.4 Deliverables

Delivering the SOER 2015 communication and dissemination plan requires initial preparatory work

to identify:

exactly who is being targeted for each part of SOER 2015 and for the product as a whole

(stakeholder analysis);

precisely what information they need and how best to deliver it to them (identifying

communication channels and products);

the key dissemination opportunities in 2014–2015 (identifying key events, policy processes and

relevant deadlines of legislative revisions).

One output from this background work will be the production of a draft communication and

dissemination plan, which will address issues such as branding and visual identity, development of

SOER 2015 products, launch activities, dissemination, and processes for evaluating SOER 2015’s

performance against its communication objectives.


As mentioned the communications work will be based on the five parts of SOER 2015 (i.e. Synthesis,

Part A, Part B, Part C and SOER 2015 Online) as well as the overall product and process.


Within the EEA, the design and rollout of SOER 2015 communications and dissemination elements

will be coordinated by a small SOER 2015 Communications Team (this will include at least two

members of the SOER Core Team, as well as other communication experts from the COM

programme).

Who? Estimated staff involvement (*)

SOER 2015 Communications Team 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Communication and Dissemination – Other EEA involvement 0.5 FTE

TOTAL 1.5 FTE




Communication activities will also include engagement with NRC-Communications and other

relevant groups.

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In addition, staff from the COM programme will also support the development of the various parts

of SOER 2015 including editing, planning of production, quality checking, and disseminations,

amongst others – see resource requirements listed for the respective parts.


I. Communication and dissemination plan

The SOER 2015 Communications Team will elaborate a detailed communication and

dissemination plan setting out the communications products and activities and a timeline for

their development. The draft plan will be produced in September 2013 and developed further

throughout the SOER process.

The plan will be prepared based on preparatory analysis of the target audiences (who are we

targeting and what information do they need?), the communication channels (how do we reach

them?) and the key communication opportunities (when and where should we target them?).

The background work will include the following key elements:

Stakeholder and audience analysis: The needs of key stakeholders will be investigated via a

planned pilot evaluation taking place in spring 2013. A brief survey will also be distributed to

attendees at the SOER 2015 preparatory meetings. As these people are also representative

of the prospective audiences, they may be able to provide some insights into which

communication channels they use most, how they receive important information, and how it

is used. This stakeholder analysis will also play an important role in evaluation of SOER 2015,

helping in identifying success criteria and providing baseline information.

Analysis of communications channels: Research into the most effective communication

channels for reaching the principle audience, i.e. policymakers in the European and national

spheres, should draw on the conclusions of the recent EEA evaluation, which analyses key

EEA products including elements of SOER 2010. Different media, direct mailings, email

newsletters and presentations will all play a part in publicising SOER 2015 in order to

influence the policy process directly and indirectly. Communications will also attempt to

maximise opportunities to use other multipliers, for example NGOs, academia and other

organisations that may be able to take on and transmit messages.

Identification of communication opportunities: EEA will assemble a calendar of forthcoming

events and policy processes from mid-2014 onwards where SOER 2015 content can provide

valuable input. To ensure that the report does not clash with other foreseeable

environmental or political events, it will be necessary to check various forward-planning

sources before deciding on the main launch date.

II. Developing SOER 2015’s branding and visual identity

The SOER should be branded in accordance with the objectives of the EEA Corporate

Communications Strategy, including the following:

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For policymakers, the SOER 2015 should be branded as a working tool for the years to come,

relevant for policies in the environmental spheres and other areas;

Branding should also emphasise the fact that the SOER is a monumental 5-year exercise, and

an authoritative resource for understanding Europe’s environment.

Branding and messaging will be most effective if there is one overarching key message and

several others corresponding to thematic areas, countries and so on. In the past the key

messages have been: progress towards sustainability not going far enough (2000); climate

change is the biggest environmental problem (2005); environmental issues are increasingly

complex and interlinked (2010).

The format of the final ‘package’ will be crucial in this context: the distinct elements will have to

stand alone as distinct products and exist as part of the larger product. This presents a range of

challenges and opportunities for design and production that must be considered from the

outset.

SOER 2015 should have a dedicated logo, visual identity and branding (including key messages)

across all products and activities. This will be developed, incorporated and rolled out well in

advance of launch dates.

III. Key derivative products

A range of products and activities can be developed in support of and as derivatives to SOER

2015, including:

Signals 2015;

social media content including info-graphics, messages, blogs, etc.;

press release/s (notifying key press that products are available and how they can be used);

media briefing notes;

speeches and presentations for EEA/Eionet use;

interactive maps and info graphics;

posters and other exhibition material;

USB sticks and other merchandise;

audiovisual products ;

web articles on various topics – gradually published and disseminated after the launch;

outreach competitions (before and after);

bespoke briefings based on SOER 2015 for policymakers.

Communications considerations since SOER 2010

The alignment of Signals 2015 (as one of the public faces of SOER 2015), which will begin in 2014, will constitute

one of the major outputs in support of SOER 2015.

The advent of social media provides possibilities for direct engagement with motivated members of the general

public, as well as groups of experts. This presents EEA with a communications opportunity in relation to SOER 2015

that was previously absent. The EEA’s ability to design and develop interactive maps and info-graphics provides an

opportunity to brand and explain our information in a way that is friendly to both social and traditional media.

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IV. Launch activities

SOER 2015 is both a snapshot and a rolling series of launches and activities, which are likely to

begin in late 2014 and run until the end of 2015 when work can be expected to begin on the

next SOER project. The SOER 2015 activities will be managed primarily by the dedicated SOER

2015 Communications Team.

In preparation for the launch and during the launch itself, activities can be broken down into

the following steps:

general presentation of the EEA and the context of the SOER 2015;

pre- announcement of the launch to all MEPs;

save the date announcement to the media and MEPs;

press package (background info: press releases, video news release, synopsis);

panel debate with senior EU policy makers;

exhibition module;

online launch / social media / interactive component.

EEA and Eionet should consider a set of pre-launch activities. In particular, SOER 2015 will be

launched just a few months after the EU elections, so there will be a new cohort of MEPs and

new executives at the Commission. An announcement and possibly a preview of some of the

main messages of the SOER 2015 should be made available as soon as the new politicians are

on duty, around September-October 2014.

Dedicated launches of individual parts and national launches could also take place to

complement the launch of the complete package in early 2015. For example, the country

summaries could be published online, and then publicised at suitable events in the individual

countries. Such an approach would allow the EEA to deploy relevant key messages at suitable

times throughout 2015. This process could also reduce potential bottlenecks in editing,

translation, web content management, layout, etc.

V. Dissemination activities

SOER 2015 can benefit from current efforts to streamline and improve EEA dissemination

processes. These activities, which will be critical to SOER 2015, are carried out in a parallel

processes within the EEA include:

modernising and streamlining the dissemination of EEA outputs;

enhancing impact among main target audiences;

addressing target groups with relevant topics in an appropriate style and frequency;

moving toward electronic dissemination for selected reports;

obtaining better user statistics and feedback – a key element for evaluations;

reducing human and financial resource needs for targeted dissemination exercises.

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VI. Evaluation

Evaluation will play an important role in measuring the success of SOER 2015 and future EEA

activities in achieving their objectives.

The background analysis of stakeholders (commencing in 2013) will play an important role in

identifying and defining success criteria for each part of SOER 2015. A stakeholder evaluation in

2015 will help determine performance against these criteria and opportunities to improve

communication activities.

Other evaluation activities will address the EEA’s internal performance in delivering SOER 2015,

including issues such as efficiency.

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8 SOER 2015 Project governance

8.1 Internal project set-up

The final sign-off of SOER 2015 as a package, as well as its respective constituent parts, lies with the

Executive Director of the EEA, in consultation with and based on input from the EEA senior

management.

The overall SOER 2015 Lead and responsibility for delivering a version for final sign-off lies with Jock

Martin, Head of Programme for Integrated Environmental Assessments. He oversees the planning

and full implementation of the SOER 2015 process, provides regular updates on the project’s status

to senior management, and ensures strong coordination and linkage with related activities and

flanking activities across the EEA.

A SOER 2015 Coordination Group (also referred to as SOER 2015 Project Team) is tasked with

ensuring implementation of the respective SOER 2015 parts. For this, six dedicated SOER 2015

Teams are established (i.e. the six teams are Synthesis Team, Part A Team, Part B Team, Part C Team,

SOER 2015 Online Team, SOER 2015 Communications Team). The respective lead / contact points of

these teams report to the SOER 2015 Lead via the SOER 2015 Coordination Group.

CONTACT POINTS / CO-LEAD KEY INPUT NEEDED FROM

SOER 2015 Synthesis Team

Thomas Henrichs (IEA) (*) Team of 4 for drafting the report

Team of 4 for stakeholder process

SOER 2015 Part A Team

Teresa Ribeiro (IEA) 4 to 6 co-authors

SOER 2015 Part B Team Johannes Schilling (ACC)

Mike Asquith (IEA)

Frank Wugt Larsen (NSV)

(i) The respective thematic groups that

will co-draft SOER fiches (t.b.d.);

(ii) IMG to secure SOER indicators.

SOER 2015 Part C Team Cathy Maguire (IEA)

Milan Chrenko (GAN)

(i) NFP/NRC regarding country fiches

and cross-country comparisons;

(ii) Thematic groups to SOER country

comparisons; (iii) SENSE Project Team.

SOER 2015 Online Team

Søren Roug (OSE)

Andy Martin (SES)

All SOER 2015 teams, plus SES, OSE &

COM

SOER 2015 Communication Team

Brendan Killeen (COM) All SOER 2015 teams, plus COM

(*) Also serves as primary contact point for SOER 2015 Coordination Group

A SOER 2015 Synthesis Team comprising 4 authors; supported by and working in close interaction

with colleagues across the EEA (especially thematic and communication experts).

A SOER 2015 Part A Team comprising around 6 authors (lead by IEA); supported by EEA thematic

experts as well as external experts and, potentially, the NRC-FLIS network.

A SOER 2015 Part B Team co-lead by ACC, IEA, and NSV. Each ‘thematic fiche’ is to be co-authored

by a thematic expert (from ACC, NSV or IEA, depending on the issue), supported by the SOER 2015

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communication group. The ‘environmental indicators’ are the responsibility of the thematic groups

supported by thematic experts in the respective ETCs, supported by the SOER 2015 Online group.

A SOER 2015 Part C Team co-lead by GAN and IEA, in cooperation with SES.

Each ‘country fiche’ is to be authored by a country representative (preferably the author of national

SOE reports) in interaction with EEA – and with guidance from the SOER 2015 Part C Team and SOER

2015 communication group (editors).

The ‘cross-country comparison fiche(s)’ are to be compiled and authored by the EEA. Adding

country-level perspectives to these is the responsibility of the countries (via SENSE), and will be

supported by the SOER 2015 Online group.

A SOER 2015 Online Team co-led by SES and OSE.

A SOER 2015 Communication Team led by COM.

8.2 Internal communication during the project

Within SOER 2015 Project Team

Regular (monthly) overall SOER 2015 Project Team meetings.

Additional overall SOER 2015 Project Team meetings, to discuss issues in-depth, as needed.

Regular meetings within the respective SOER 2015 ‘Sub-teams’ teams, as needed.

Involvement of EEA colleagues beyond SOER 2015 Project Team

Regular (monthly) updates to SMT by overall SOER 2015 Lead or SOER 2015 Coordination Group.

Regular (monthly) internal updates

One SOER 2015 staff meeting per quarter in 2013, 2014 (i.e. 6 meetings, 2 hours each)

- Sep 2013: Focus on overall implementation plan

- Dec 2013: Focus on guidance to Part B

- Mar 2014: Update on progress on all parts, preparation for Management Board seminar

- Jun 2014: Review of all parts, final commenting phase

- Sep 2014: Presentation of SOER 2015 Online to EEA staff, beta-testing

- Dec 2014: Update on communication activities in 2015

Selected SOER 2015 EEA staff seminars on specific topics:

- SOER 2015 Synthesis (full-day, April 2014)

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8.3 Involvement of Eionet, Management Board and Scientific Committee

Role of NFP and NRC-SOE

Overall, the National Focal Points (NFPs) and National Reference Centres for State of Environment

Reporting (NRC-SOE) should help ensure the country level input into the SOER 2015 process is

credible and reliable; this could focus on the following:

(1) The NFPs coordinate reviews by the respective thematic National Reference Centres and/or other

country-level experts as part of the regular consultation process;

(2) The NFPs, together with the National Reference Centres for SOE reporting (NRC-SOE), channel

country-level input to the SOER 2015, especially as part of the Part C (via SENSE, SERIS and dedicated

country fiches);

(3) The NFPs reflect on the findings of the Synthesis stakeholder workshops at a dedicated session

during the regular Eionet meetings.

Role of Management Board

The Management Board’s overall role is to guide the project to ensure a legitimate and transparent

process. This includes the following:

(1) The Management Board is regularly updated on progress at its meetings and provides guidance

as appropriate during implementation;

(2) The Management Board reflects on the findings of the Synthesis stakeholder workshops at a

dedicated seminar in spring 2014 (possible in a joint seminar with the Scientific Committee).

Role of Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee should help ensure the outcomes are credible and reliable; this could focus

on the following:

(1) The Scientific Committee reviews the various elements of SOER 2015 as part of the regular

consultation process;

(2) The Scientific Committee contributes to the SOER 2015 Synthesis through a dedicated seminar

(possible a joint seminar with the Management Board).

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8.4 Consultation calendar

Main EIONET &

stakeholder

meetings

Synthesis

Report

Part A

GMT

fiches

Part B

Thematic

fiches

Part C

Country

fiches

Part C

Cross-country

fiches

Sep 2013

Draft Outline Draft Guidance Draft Outline

Oct 2013 SC EEA / Eionet EEA / Eionet EEA / Eionet

NFP Feedback feedback feedback

Nov 2013 Synthesis WS

MB Final Outline Final Guidance Final Outline

Dec 2013

Draft Outline

Jan 2014 EEA / Eionet

feedback

Feb 2014 Synthesis WS

SC Final Outline Final Outline EEA QA EEA QA

Mar 2014 NFP Draft Fiches Drafts to EEA Draft Fiches

MB Seminar EEA / Eionet EEA QA EEA / Eionet

Apr 2014 EEA Seminar consultation & Feedback consultation

NRC-SOE EEA QA EEA QA (6 weeks) (6 weeks) (6 weeks)

May 2014 Draft Draft Fiches Revisions &

EEA / Eionet EEA / Eionet link with SENSE

Jun 2014 NFP consultation consultation FINAL DRAFTS FINAL DRAFTS FINAL DRAFTS

MB (6 weeks) (6 weeks)

Jul 2014

FINAL DRAFTS

Aug 2014

Sep 2014 FINAL DRAFT

Oct 2014 SC

NFP Final Updates Final Updates Final Updates Final Updates Final Updates

Nov 2014

MB

Dec 2014

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Annex I – Key terms and definitions

SOER 2015 related

CSI – Core Set of Indicators hosted by the EEA; as of Jan 2013 this comprises 37 indicators, which support EU policy

priorities, are regularly updated, are of known quality, are based on nine selection criteria and are approved by

EEA member countries.

Environmental indicator – an environmental indicator is a measure, generally quantitative, that can be used to illustrate

and communicate complex environmental phenomena simply, including trends and progress over time – and

thus helps provide insight into the state of the environment (EEA, 2005).

FLIS – Forward-looking information and services (FLIS) is a platform to support long-term decision-making. The aim of FLIS

is to introduce forward-looking components and perspectives into existing environmental information systems

and to expand the knowledge base and its use.

GMT – Global Megatrend.

SENSE – Shared European National State of the Environment (SENSE) is the process for improving the sharing of SOE

indicators between the national, sub-national and European levels. It includes capacity building activities for

making Eionet use SOE Online and experiments for advancing this infrastructure. In its third phase (SENSE-3), this

process focusses on the country support to SOER 2015, i.e. primarily SOER 2015 Part C.

SOER – State and Outlook of the Environment Report (also the ‘European Environment: State and Outlook’ report)

published by the European Environment Agency every five years.

SOER 2015 – European Environment: State and Outlook 2015 report.

SOER 2015 Online – is the web presence of SOER 2015, which primarily deals with the presentation of the related

information, including references to underlying indicators, graphs, interactive maps and data sets. This presents a

user experience for SOER 2015 Part C. It will require specific tool support for its development. All content will be

static in the sense that no additional information will be added to SOER 2015 Online after the official release, i.e.

new versions of any SOER 2015 content will be available as a resource from SOE Online, but not directly from

SOER 2015 Online.

SOE Online – is the EEA/Eionet infrastructure that supports the exchange and management of SOE information using web

technologies, of which SOER 2015 Online is one user experience product. It is an online element to provide the

underpinning content for environmental reporting and also provides a backend to SOER 2015 assessments and

SOER 2015 Online.

SOER 2015 context related

7EAP – Seventh Environment Action Programme of the European Union, currently under discussion based a proposal for a

new general Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 by the European Commission.

AoA (also: EE-AoA) – (Europe’s Environment) Assessment of Assessments; In support of the 2011 'Environment for Europe'

Ministerial Conference in Astana, EEA prepared EE-AoA. This report provides a comprehensive overview of

available sources of environmental information across the region which directly relate to the themes in focus at

the Conference, water and related ecosystems, and green economy.

CDR – The Central Data Repository (CDR) is part of the Reportnet architechture. The Central Data Repository is like a

bookshelf, with data reports on the environment as submitted to international clients. Each country either has a

collection for its deliveries or a referral to a different preferred repository. The data reports within each country

collection are arranged under the relevant reporting obligations or agreements

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Copernicus – The European Copernicus programme, previously known as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security

(GMES) is an EU-wide flagship programme that aims to support policymakers, business, and citizens with

improved environmental information. Copernicus integrates satellite and in-situ data with modeling to provide

user-focused information services.

Data Centres – The Environmental data centre website is the coordinated entry point for European data relevant to the

selected theme and products related to the indicators. It provides users with easy searching, viewing and

download functions. It also gives links to involved partners and supporting documents.

(www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/european-data-centres)

DaViz – DaViz is a web tool developed by the European Environment Agency which helps creating interactive data

visualizations easily through the web browser, no extra tools are necessary. It is free and open source.

(http://daviz.eionet.europa.eu/learn-more)

Discomap – Discomap is a website for developers and GIS experts to allow re-use of our map-services. Any map services

here is exposed for public users by EEA or any other website who might be interested to do so.

(http://discomap.eea.europa.eu/)

ENP - The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is a foreign relations instrument of the European Union (EU) which seeks

to tie those countries to the east and south of the EU into the EU. These countries, primarily developing

countries, include many who seek one day to become either member states of the European Union itself, or

generally more closely integrated with the economy of the European Union.

Eye on Earth (EoE) – an umbrella term for multiple notions. We suggest always being as specific as possible and refer to

e.g. EoE network, EoE watches, EoE platform, EoE infrastructure, etc.

ETDS – Environmental Terminology and Discovery Service (http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/)

FTE – Full-time equivalent, this is a unit that indicates the workload of an employed person in a way that makes workloads

comparable. Over the period July 2013 to December 2014, 1.0 FTE indicates a workload of 300 person-days.

GCI – GEOSS Common Infrastructure.

GEMET – GEMET, the GEneral Multilingual Environmental Thesaurus, has been developed as an indexing, retrieval and

control tool for the European Topic Centre on Catalogue of Data Sources (ETC/CDS) and the European

Environment Agency (EEA). The basic idea for the development of GEMET was to use the best of the presently

available multilingual thesauri.

GEOSS – Global Earth Observation System of Systems.

GEO – UNEP Global Environment Outlook.

GIS – Geographical Information Systems.

GMES – See Copernicus.

IMS – IMS stands for Indicator Management System and it is part of the overall EEA CMS (Content Management System,

Plone) for the EEA website.

INSPIRE – the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community is a European Directive. It is based on the

infrastructures for spatial information established and operated by the 27 Member States of the European

Union. The Directive addresses 34 spatial data themes needed for environmental applications, with key

components specified through technical implementing rules. This makes INSPIRE a unique example of a

legislative “regional” approach. INSPIRE has been identified as a major part for implementing SEIS, because it

enables the sharing of geospatial and environmental information – at least between public authorities. INSPIRE

http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/european-data-centres

http://daviz.eionet.europa.eu/learn-more

http://discomap.eea.europa.eu/

http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/

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already sets out much of the core architecture for a SEIS implementation, i.e. by ensuring that electronic data

content and services at national and regional levels are implemented in accordance with common standards, are

easily accessible and can be combined across administrative borders. It has to be evaluated – in activities such as

the current Air Quality eReporting exercise - how this infrastructure can be connected to existing environmental

reporting systems. The SIIF concept has been suggested as a driver for further investigations.

INSPIRE spatial data services – or more precisely INSPIRE spatial data services and services allowing spatial data services to

be invoked - are, according to the INSPIRE Directive, the operations which may be performed, by invoking a

computer application, on the spatial data contained in spatial data sets or on the related metadata. This is a very

wide set of services, and this document does not mandate any requirement applying to the full set.

Reportnet – Reportnet is Eionet’s infrastructure for supporting and improving data and information flows. Reportnet is

based on a set of inter-related tools and processes which all build on the active use of the World Wide Web.

Reportnet has been developed since 2000 and has been in operational use since 2002.

(http://www.eionet.europa.eu/reportnet)

ROD – ROD is the EEA's Reporting Obligations Database. It contains records describing environmental reporting obligations

that countries have towards international organisations. ROD is part of Reportnet. Reportnet is group of web

applications and processes developed by the EEA to support international environmental reporting.

(http://rod.eionet.europa.eu/)

SDI – Spatial Data Infrastructure.

SEIS – the Shared Environmental Information System aims (amongst others) at the streamlining of EU reporting

requirements towards fully on-line reporting. It promotes seven fundamental principles for sharing

environmental information, and resides on the three pillars for implementation. Both, the principles and pillars

can directly be specified for the sharing of SOE information – as a subset of environmental information. SOE

Online should clearly build on those, following earlier examples, such as SENSE. For a detailed explanation of

SENSE as a SEIS implementation with a focus on implementing an approach for online sharing of national and

European information on the state and outlook of the environment, see the SENSE-2 final report.

SERIS – is an inventory of national state of the environment reports. SERIS contains SOE report details including an

overview of the structure and topics covered.

SIIF – Structured Implementation and Information Frameworks have been introduced by DG Environment as a concept for

linking location-based information systems to EU level e-Reporting systems in order to make reported

information usable in various contexts and at different geographic scales. They should, on the one hand, identify

how EU environment law is implemented on the ground, and, on the other, determine good examples and best

practices of information systems at local, regional and cross-border levels. As a pilot activity, the Commission

services are already developing a concept for the reporting and dissemination requirements of the Urban Waste

Water Treatment Directive. Based on the lessons learned from the first SIIF, the Commission services will

consider ways for expanding the concept and structure of the SIIFs to other environment policy areas.

SOE Live – a component of UNEP Live, which presents the latest UNEP SOE information on several thematic areas,

including atmosphere, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, land and water. Each theme provides access to related

assessments, graphs and maps, as well as a list of further readings. SOE Live always presents the latest available

report. It presents a user experience component on top of an infrastructure that is similar to parts of SOE Online,

but does not offer version control and change records – at least it does not expose it. Furthermore, connections

to indicators and data are currently not embedded in SOE Live. Compared to SOER 2015 Online, SOE Live does

not provide access to a static but consistent snapshot of SOE information, but to dynamic content.

TERM – Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism

UNEP Live – prototypical web platform of UNEP for ‘tacking the state of our environment’, which provides entry points to

UNEP reports, maps, data, indicators, emerging issues and last but not least SOE Live. It also offers a country

perspective on the available SOE information. Due to its similarities UNEP Live is frequently compared to the EEA

http://www.eionet.europa.eu/reportnet

http://rod.eionet.europa.eu/

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web site and with several EEA products, potentially also including SOER 2015 Online. It should however be noted

that UNEP Live is more of a user experience to an infrastructure that is comparable to SOE Online.

Groups and organisations

ASEF – Asia-Europe Foundation.

BEPA – Bureau for European Policy Advisors.

CDO – Country Desk Officers at the European Environment Agency

DG – Directorate-General of the European Commission; includes, amongst others:

DG AGRI – DG Agriculture and Rural Development DG CLIMA – DG Climate Action

DG ENTR – DG Enterprise and Industry DG ENER – DG Energy

DG ENV – DG Environment DG MARE – DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

DG MOVE – DG Mobility and Transport DG SANCO – DG Health and Consumers

DG REGIO – DG Regional Policy DG RTD – Research and Innovation

EEA – European Environment Agency includes following programmes:

ACC - Air and Climate Change ADS - Administrative services

COM – Communications EDO – Executive Director’s Office

GAN - Governance and Networks IEA - Integrated Environmental Assessments

NSV - Natural Systems and Vulnerability OSE - Operational services

SES - SEIS support.

Eionet – European Environment Information and Observation Network

EP – European Parliament; includes several parliamentary Committees, including:

AGRI - Agriculture and Rural Development ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy PECH - Fisheries

REGI - Regional Development TRAN - Transport and Tourism

EPAs – Environmental Protection Agencies.

EPA Net – European Network of the Heads of Environment Protection Agencies; an informal grouping bringing together

the heads and directors of environment protection agencies and similar bodies across Europe.

ESTAT – Eurostat.

ETC – European Topic Centres; i.e. a consortium of organisations from EEA member countries with expertise in a specific

environmental area contracted by the EEA.

GLOBE – Global Legislators' Organisation (GLOBE International / GLOBE EU) – i.e. this is an organisation that supports

parliamentarians to develop common legislative responses to the major challenges.

IIASA – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change.

JRC – Joint Research Centre, a Directorate-General of the European Commission.

MB – Management Board of the European Environment Agency.

MEP – Member of the European Parliament.

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NFP – National Focal Points; an expert or group of experts in national environmental organisations nominated and funded

by the country and authorised to be the main contact point for the EEA.

NGO – Non-Governmental Organizations.

NRC – National Reference Centre; i.e. an expert or group of experts in national environmental organisations nominated

and funded by the country to work with the EEA and relevant European Topic Centres in specific thematic areas

related to the EEA work programme. These include:

NRC-EIS – NRC for Environmental Information Systems.

NRC-FLIS – NRC for Forward Looking Information Services.

NRC-SOE – NRC for State of Environment Reporting.

OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

SC – Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency.

SEI – Stockholm Environment Institute.

SMT – Senior Management Team of the European Environment Agency.

UNEP – United Nations Environment Program.

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Annex II – Selected EEA flanking activities and processes

SOER 2015 explicitly aims to build on existing EEA information – the SOER 2015 process is thus

directly linked with a host of flanking activities and processes within the EEA. Broadly speaking, the

interplay with these can be broadly grouped as follows:

Information sources; these are recent or on-going EEA monitoring, data, indicator or assessment

activities that contribute to the information base that underpins the drafting of the various

thematic fiches and the SOER 2015 Synthesis, and provides the basis for SOER 2015 Online.

Derivative products; these are products that use the different deliverables and outcomes of

SOER 2015 and translate these into different contexts. This includes dedicated communication

and dissemination processes, as well as different ways of interactive presentation.

Flanking processes; these relate to other on-going (often international) assessment processes

which SOER 2015 can provide input to, primarily by using the material developed under the

SOER 2015 umbrella and augmenting it as needed for different international processes.

Examples for potential EEA information sources

Environmental Indicator Reports (in 2012, 2013 and 2014)

Three annual, cross-cutting Environmental Indicator Reports are foreseen: in 2012 (green economy,

resource efficiency and ecosystem resilience), 2013 (use of natural resources and human well-

being), and 2014 (sustainable consumption in a global context). Each edition is a 100 to 150 pages

report in A5 format, largely based on existing EEA indicators. (Note: No dedicated Environmental

Indicator Report is report foreseen for 2015; the series would continue again in 2016.)

Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation

Early in 2013, the EEA published a ‘Late lessons from early warnings’ report, the second of its type

produced in collaboration with a broad range of external authors and peer reviewers. The case

studies across both volumes of Late lessons from early warnings cover a diverse range of chemical

and technological innovations, and highlight a number of systemic problems. The discussions the

publication of this report have triggered offers scope further reflections in an SOER 2015 context.

Shared European National State of the Environment - SENSE

Shared European National State of the Environment (SENSE) is a process for improving the sharing of

SOE indicators between the national, sub-national and European levels. It includes capacity building

activities for making Eionet use SOE Online and experiments for advancing this infrastructure. In its

first phase (SENSE-1) it supported the development of SOER 2010, in its second phase (SENSE-2) it

focussed on advancing the infrastructure needed to link European and national indicators. In its third

phase (SENSE-3), this process focusses on supporting country links to SOER 2015.

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Other EEA thematic and cross-thematic monitoring, data, indicators, assessment and reporting

processes

SOER 2015 will closely link to and rely on thematic and cross-thematic monitoring, data, indicators,

assessment and reporting processes (see, for example, below excerpts from the EEA Publication Plan

2013). This will also make use of and be conscious of relevant international thematic assessment

exercises that EEA assessments relate to (e.g. IPCC).

Excerpts from EEA Publication Plan 2013

- EEA reports planned for different environmental and cross-cutting themes (*)

Air quality Air quality in Europe – 2013 report

Climate Change mitigation Tracking progress towards 2008-2012 Kyoto targets in Europe

Tracking progress towards 2020 climate and energy targets in Europe

Freshwater Quality of bathing water – 2012 bathing season

Adaptation & vulnerability Climate change adaptation in Europe

Ecosystem assessments Ecosystem Capital Accounts and their policy applications

Environment & health Environment and health in Europe

SCP and waste Progress towards better management of municipal waste in Europe

Land use Implementing water accounts in the EEA area

Europe's State of Coasts report 2012

Energy Review of the EU bioenergy potential in a resource efficiency perspective

Transport Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM) 2013

(*) This overview is indicative only, and does not include EEA Technical Reports planned for 2013.

Examples of SOER 2015 derivative products

EEA Signals Report (in 2015)

The EEA Signals report (i.e. 2015 edition) could complement the more analytical SOE information

with a presentation geared towards the public – to offer an easy to read (accessible) output on key

issues. The product could be a report, 50 to 100 pages, drafted for a general audience – based on the

material compiled in the context of SOER 2015, with scope to also include interviews and side-

stories. Possible vehicle also for a multimedia approach to communication of SOER 2015.

Other EEA communication channels

The EEA SOER 2015 outcomes should be made accessible as much as possible using also other key

EEA online communication channels. This should utilise the EEA website, data interpretation tools

(such as DaViz, an EEA tool for interactive data comparison), web-based platforms and networking

approaches which can potentially enliven SOE reporting (such as Eye on Earth), or social media

channels (such as Facebook and Twitter).

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Examples of other flanking processes

Pan-European environmental reporting and assessments

EEA has been put in charge of developing a ‘Regular Process’ for environmental reporting across the

pan-European region (accompanied by a decision to gradually extend SEIS to these countries to

support this). This includes activities in non-EEA countries in the UNECE European region supporting

the development of indicators and national SOE reports, and the further application of the

Assessment of Assessments approach in new thematic areas. A key aim of this activity is to

streamline SOE reporting at different geographical scales across this region. There is an opportunity

to use the approaches being applied for SOER 2015 to help frame and inform this work (for example,

using Part C approaches, SERIS and SENSE).

UNEP Live & UNEP Global Environment Outlook (GEO)

UNEP Live is prototypical web platform of UNEP for ‘tacking the state of our environment’, which

provides entry points to UNEP reports, maps, data, indicators, emerging issues and last but not least

SOE Live. It also offers a country perspective on the available SOE information. SOER 2015 can

provide a basis for European input to this.

SOER 2015 as European contribution to global state of the environment reporting (UNEP Live / GEO-6)

The SOER 2015 provides objective, reliable and comparable information on the state of, trends in and prospects for the

environment at the European level. As such – and as was the case with previous SOER processes – it should also serve as

European input to international and global environmental assessments, such as those lead by UNEP (e.g. Global

Environment Outlook 6 and/or the on-going discussions about UNEP Live).

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Annex III – Geographical coverage, country names and country groupings

SOER 2015 will present a comprehensive report on the state of, trends in and prospects for the

environment across all 39 member countries and cooperating countries of the European

Environment Agency – to the degree possible.

As a European Community agency we follow the guide of the Commission's Interinstitutional style

guide on country names. This style guide is available here:

http://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-370100.htm

The country groupings presented here are based on the official classification used in the

Interinstitutional style guide and the nomenclature used by DG Enlargement.

Region Sub-regions Sub-group Countries

EEA member countries EU-28 EU-15 Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,

Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the

Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United

Kingdom

EU-12+1 Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia,

Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania,

Slovakia, Slovenia

EU candidate countries

Turkey, Iceland

European Free Trade

Association (EFTA)

Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland

EEA cooperating

countries

(Western Balkans)

EU candidate countries The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,

Montenegro, Serbia

EU potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Kosovo under UN SCR 1224/99

Note: For practical reasons the groups used are based on established political groupings (as of mid-2013) rather than

environmental considerations. Thus there are variations in environmental performance within the groups and substantial

overlaps between them; where possible, this has been highlighted in the SOER 2015 Synthesis.

Where it is meaningful, thematic fiches or country fiches may refer to regional groupings based on

bio-geographical features to illustrate specific trends. However, where this is done the respective

regional groupings and the underlying rationale need to be explained clearly.

http://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-370100.htm

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Annex IV – Staffing and resource requirements

Below tables give an overview indication of the estimated effort across the EEA required, to ensure

the implementation of SOER 2015. This does not include staff and resource requirements needed for

copy-editing, lay-out and publication of the printed outcomes of SOER 2015. It also does not include

staff and resource requirements for the dissemination and communication process through 2015.

Based these estimates the total effort required – beyond the regular EEA thematic, networking and

other support activities – is likely to total around 12 FTE11 over the period of mid-2013 to end-2014.

SOER 2015 Synthesis

Staffing – Who? Estimated staff involvement

SOER 2015 Synthesis Team (coordination, drafting and editing) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Synthesis – Input to and coordination of stakeholder process 0.5 FTE

SOER 2015 Synthesis – Other EEA involvement & content co-development 1.5 FTE

TOTAL 3.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part A

Staffing - Who? Estimated staff involvement

SOER 2015 Part A Team (coordination, drafting and editing) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part A – Contributors to GMT updating, analysis and drafting 0.4 FTE

SOER 2015 Part A – Other EEA involvement (e.g. IT support, fiche design, etc.) 0.1 FTE

TOTAL 1.5 FTE

SOER 2015 Part B


SOER 2015 Part B Team (analysis, drafting and editing) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part B – Additional thematic input, indicator and analytical support 0.4 FTE

SOER 2015 Part B – Other EEA involvement (e.g. IT support, fiche design, etc.) 0.1 FTE

TOTAL 1.5 FTE

SOER 2015 Part C

Staffing Who? Estimated staff involvement

SOER 2015 Part C Team (coordination, analysis and drafting) 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Part C – Thematic input, indicator and analytical support, editing 0.8 FTE

SOER 2015 Part C – Other EEA involvement (e.g. IT support, fiche design, etc.) 0.2 FTE

TOTAL 2.0 FTE

Plus: SOER 2015 Part C – Eionet country contributions 15 to 20 days per country12

SOER 2015 Online

Who? Estimated staff involvement

SOER 2015 Online Team (Development & Design) 2.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Online – Contributions and other EEA involvement 0.5 FTE

TOTAL 2.5 FTE

SOER 2015 Dissemination and Communication

Who? Estimated staff involvement

SOER 2015 Communication Team 1.0 FTE

SOER 2015 Communication – Other EEA involvement 0.5 FTE

TOTAL 1.5 FTE

Note: This table does not include Communication activities in 2015.

11

FTE = Full-time equivalent, this is a unit that indicates the workload of an employed person in a way that makes

workloads comparable. Over the period July 2013 to December 2014, 1.0 FTE indicates a workload of 300 person-days. 12

This estimate includes delivery of one country fiche per country, consultation on cross-country comparison as well as ensuring SERIS update (i.e. it does not include establishment of links to national information through SENSE).

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Annex V – Project calendar and milestones towards SOER 2015

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Synt

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Synt

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