The overriding goal of this Directive is to achieve 'good environmental status' by 2020 across European waters.

In order to achieve this, the Directive establishes four European Marine Regions. The UK is part of the North East Atlantic Marine Region. The UK must co-ordinate a marine strategy with other countries in this region.

Marine strategies will be implemented to protect and conserve the marine environment and restore marine ecosystems. The strategies developed by each Member State must include:

• A monitoring programme, including targets and indicators, to measure progress towards 'good environmental status'
• The establishment of measures designed to achieve or maintain 'good environmental status'

This Directive is also known as Directive 2008/56/EC on establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy.