Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities that arise when applying an environmental perspective to MSP. Planning and managing human activities in a way that does not exceed the capacity of marine ecosystems can deliver economic and social benefits.

Opening the conference, Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, said: "We are using our seas and coasts in more ways than ever before. This has often been presented as creating conflict: a) between competing economic interests, and b) between economic activities and safeguarding our marine environment. Let me assure you: it need not be so. Planning and managing our activities better allows us to reap environmental and economic benefits. It allows us to meet our ambitious environmental targets and create economic growth. And it allows us to reap social benefits, through greater stakeholder involvement."

The morning discussions focused on the link between the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. The role of stakeholders and their early involvement was seen as an important element of good planning, and better data gathering and availability listed as one of the urgent priorities.

In the afternoon participants discussed the ecosystem approach, in particular the difficulties of applying it in practice. It became clear that different concepts co-exist, and participants put forward creative ideas on how to develop checklists and guidelines to ensure that maritime plans take an ecosystem approach. The last session emphasised the leading role that Regional Seas Conventions can play in the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.

The Commission will use the insights from the conference to draw up an informal guidance document on how maritime spatial planning can help manage activities in the marine environment.

Background

Maritime spatial planning is a driver for sustainable blue growth: it reduces conflicts on access to maritime space, diminishes the cumulative impact of maritime activities on the environment, improves certainty and predictability for private investments, and reduces coordination costs for public authorities.

The EU therefore adopted a Maritime Spatial Planning Directive in 2014, to encourage blue growth on the basis of coordinated cross-border planning. Under the Directive, EU Member States need to appoint a national authority in charge of planning, and develop plans covering all EU waters by 2021 at the latest. They also need to put in place structures for cross-border cooperation. Member States have to transpose the Directive into their national legislation by September next year.

The event was the fifth event in a series of maritime spatial planning conferences organised by the Commission. The series aims to let national and regional authorities, maritime industries and non-governmental organisations share experiences, so that they can develop their planning activities and implement the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. Previous conferences addressed maritime spatial planning and specific sectors: offshore energy, shipping, fisheries and aquaculture, and coastal and maritime tourism.

More information:

'The Marine Environment', speech by Commissioner Vella

Maritime Spatial Planning webpage