Overview of the linkages between the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) framework and the EU directives that govern environmental status and biodiversity in marine and coastal areas: MSFD, WFD, the HD and the MSPD (see text for the explanations for the abbreviations). The linkages illustrate how the information and data from the assessments' components (from the implementation process of these directives) can feed into the MAES process and its modules 1-3. Optimally, such environmental and socio-economical flow of data could allow the use of the same information in multiple reporting purposes, if undertaken diligently.