Between 2000 and 2008 the Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy had been the principal legal document relating to water policy of the European Union Member States. The adoption of Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) broadened the scope of the EU law to include protection of themarine environment. This article also covers the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive within Polish legal system.

Land based sources make up 80% of all marine environment pollution.

The Directive’s aim is twofold: (1) to create uniform legal mechanism for the protection of the inland, coastal and transitional waters for entire Europe, and (2) to achieve environmental, social and economic goals.