This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 32014L0089
Maritime spatial planning for the sustainable development and growth of Europe’s maritime areas
- Date of last review:
- 26/09/2018
- Initial creation date:
- 02/02/2015
- Summary code:
-
- 02.05.00.00 Maritime affairs – General rules
- EUROVOC descriptor:
- Directory code:
- Summarised document(s):
- Author:
- Publications Office of the European Union
- Responsible entity(ies):
- Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
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 . 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 and had to be become law in the EU countries by .
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 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (OJ L 257, , pp. 135-145)
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