Maritime spatial planning for the sustainable development and growth of Europe’s maritime areas

 

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2014/89/EU on establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

The directive sets down EU countries’ common approach to the planning of maritime areas. This allows each EU country to plan its own maritime activities but this planning process - whether at national, regional or local level - is now more compatible EU-wide thanks to the introduction of a common timeframe and minimum common requirements. The new framework seeks to promote the sustainable:

• growth of maritime economies, known as the EU’s Blue Economy;
• development of marine areas;
• use of marine resources.

KEY POINTS

Maritime areas face many competing claims on their use and their development such as tourism, fishing and aquaculture, raw material extraction, sea transport routes, marine protected areas, etc.). They also face common challenges such as fragile ecosystems, the impacts of climate change and pollution.

Maritime spatial planning seeks to enable public authorities to organise human activities in marine areas so as to meet various ecological, economic and social objectives.

Maritime spatial plans

The directive requires EU countries to draw up maritime spatial plans no later than 31 March 2021. These should map existing human activities in their marine waters and identify their most effective future spatial development.

The maps must take into account land-sea interactions and environmental, economic, social and safety aspects. EU countries are required to ensure they make use of the best available economic, social and environmental data.

The public and stakeholders (like energy and transport providers, environmental groups, etc.) must be involved in the process.

Cooperation with other EU and non-EU countries

EU countries bordering the same marine waters must also cooperate so as to ensure that maritime spatial plans are coherent and coordinated across the marine region concerned. Where EU countries share a maritime border with a non-EU country, they should seek to cooperate.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 17 September 2014 and had to be become law in the EU countries by 18 September 2016.

BACKGROUND

With its Europe 2020 strategy, the EU is seeking to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020. This directive plays an essential role in the EU’s ambition to develop Europe’s Blue Economy.

For more information, see:

• Maritime spatial planning (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, pp. 135-145)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Innovation in the Blue Economy: realising the potential of our seas and oceans for jobs and growth (COM(2014)0254 final/2 of 8 May 2014)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Blue Growth — Opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth (COM(2012) 494 final of 13 September 2012)

last update 26.09.2018