Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Mediterranean
2017-2018
The UN Environment/Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) Coordinating Unit, PAP/RAC, and INFO/RAC participated as implementing partners in two EU-funded projects focusing on supporting the implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) processes in EU Members States, and cross-border cooperation in MSP initiatives. The initiatives contributed to the implementation of the EU MSP Directive as well as the implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Protocol to the Barcelona Convention and the achievement of Good Environmental Status of the Mediterranean Sea and Coasts, building also on the long-standing experience within the UN Environment/MAP system in designing and implementing ICZM tools and MSP processes.
The two projects, with a total duration of two years (January 2017- December 2018), brought together as partners key national and regional actors in MSP implementation, including research institutions, marine and coastal planning and management authorities.
Supporting Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Western Mediterranean region (SIMWESTMED)
With a total budget of 2.822.501 Euros, the project supported EU-member states in the western Mediterranean region that are Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention: France, Italy, Malta, and Spain.
Activities under UN Environment/MAP responsibility, in coordination with PAP/RAC mainly focused on:
- supporting a common understanding for the Western Mediterranean region on MSP application in the framework of the Barcelona Convention and its ICZM Protocol, enhancing synergies and cooperation with Contracting Parties which are not EU Member States;
- strengthening the coordination and common implementation of different sectorial policies in relation to the MSP implementation processes, taking into due consideration the ecosystem approach;
- analyzing and supporting land-sea interactions and connections between MSP and ICZM;
- establishing case studies on MSP implementation, building on the experience gained through the implementation of CAMP Projects in the framework of the ICZM Protocol.
Learn more: http://msp-platform.eu/projects/supporting-maritime-spatial-planning-western-mediterranean-region
Supporting Maritime Spatial Planning in the Eastern Mediterranean (SUPREME)
With a total budget of 2.499.994 Euros, the project supported EU-member states in the eastern Mediterranean region that are Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention: Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Slovenia.
Activities under UN Environment/MAP responsibility, in coordination with PAP/RAC and Info-RAC mainly focused on:
- supporting the definition and application of MSP in the Eastern Mediterranean region in a systematic and integrated manner, ensuring region-wide coherence in line with the Barcelona Convention and its ICZM Protocol
- establishing an MSP cooperation platform to enable permanent and operational networking on MSP in the Eastern Mediterranean region
- assessing data and information gaps and supporting data availability, interoperability and sharing
- enhancing stakeholders’ involvement and participation
- analyzing and supporting land-sea interactions (LSI) and connections between MSP and ICZM
Learn more: http://www.msp-supreme.eu/
