The transition from individual national plans to a more coordinated approach at the level of the sea basin for Europe’s northern seas is highlighted in a communication published on Thursday by the Commission.
According to the Commission, the need for enhanced cooperation is linked to challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, which affect the maritime areas of northern Europe.
In this context, the Wider North Sea Basin Initiative, established in 2023, promotes cross-border cooperation in marine spatial planning between North Sea countries.
The Commission says the Northern European Sea Basin project, which is co-financed by the EU through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, supports the Wider North Sea Basin Initiative.
Linking the initiative with the HELCOM-VASAB Working Group on Marine Spatial Planning, the project extends the cooperation to the Baltic Sea as well.
Two sea basins with common challenges
According to the announcement, the project is being implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, with the participation of partners from Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.
The project assesses marine spatial plans in key themes, strengthens networks between marine spatial planning authorities and researchers and develops practical tools that combine an ecosystem-based approach with a sustainable blue economy.
The Commission reports that specific results have already been produced. These include a visual guide and checklist for integrating an ecosystem-based approach to marine spatial planning, as well as a policy brief on advancing transboundary cooperation in the wider North Sea.
The project has also produced a common glossary of terms on energy transition and biodiversity, as well as a summary report mapping ongoing cumulative impact assessment work in the North and Baltic Seas.
According to the Commission, the project has also laid the methodological basis for the so-called “Mariparks”.
These are defined zones in the sea where multiple activities, such as energy production, aquaculture and nature restoration, can take place in parallel under clear and common agreements.
The Commission states that Mariparks can offer businesses greater investment certainty, while taking into account the needs of the ecosystem.
According to the announcement, this model is a practical way to make better use of the increasingly limited maritime space.
The project also strengthened cooperation between the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions through workshops such as the European Sea Day session and the Baltic MSP Week.
At the same time, through the establishment of a community of practice on cumulative impact assessment, it has shared knowledge with related EU projects such as ReMAP and MEDIGREEN.
The Commission states that the project for the Northern European Sea Basin directly supports the objectives of the Marine Spatial Planning Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Source: KYPE