Maritime spatial planning

PURPOSE: to establish a framework for maritime spatial planning, aiming at promoting the sustainable growth of maritime economies, the sustainable development of marine areas. 

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning.

CONTENT: the Directive establishes a framework for maritime spatial planning aimed at promoting the sustainable growth of maritime economies, the sustainable development of marine areas and the sustainable use of marine resources.

The Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union (‘IMP’) identifies maritime spatial planning as a cross-cutting policy tool enabling public authorities and stakeholders to apply a coordinated, integrated and trans-boundary approach, based on ecosystems.

The Directive is a vital part of the strategy on developing the EU’s Blue Growth. Its main points are as follows:

Establishment and implementation of maritime spatial planning: the Directive requires Member States to draw up, in the framework of maritime spatial planning, plans analysing and organising human activities in marine areas and determining ways of optimising future spatial development. In this context, Member States must:

·        take into account land-sea interactions and economic, social and environmental aspects as well as safety aspects;

·        aim to promote coherence between maritime spatial planning and the resulting plan or plans and other processes, such as integrated coastal management;

·        ensure the involvement of stakeholders by means of public participation;

·        organise the use of the best available data (environmental, social and economic data and marine physical data about marine waters);

·        ensure trans-boundary cooperation between Member States bordering marine waters with the aim of ensuring that maritime spatial plans are coherent and coordinated across the marine region concerned;

·        promote cooperation with third countries, such as by using existing international forums or regional institutional cooperation.

Objectives: through their maritime spatial plans, Member States shall aim to contribute to the sustainable development of energy sectors at sea, of maritime transport, and of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, and to the preservation, protection and improvement of the environment, including resilience to climate change impacts. In addition, Member States may pursue other objectives such as the promotion of sustainable tourism and the sustainable extraction of raw materials.

The Directive is without prejudice to the competence of Member States to determine how the different objectives are reflected and weighted in their maritime spatial plan or plans. Maritime spatial plans shall be reviewed at least every ten years.

Implementation: each Member State shall designate the authority or authorities competent for the implementation of the Directive. Member States shall send copies of the maritime spatial plans to the Commission and to any other Member States concerned within three months of publication.

The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council, at the latest one year after the deadline for establishment of the maritime spatial plans, and every four years thereafter, a report outlining the progress made in implementing the Directive.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 17.9.2014.

TRANSPOSITION: 18.9.2016.