EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy

1. EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy The strategic objectives for 2005-2009 the Commission declared ”the particular need for an all-embracing maritime policy aimed a developing a thriving maritime economy, in an environmentally sustainable manner. Such a policy should be supported by excellence in marine scientific research, technology and innovation”

2. The vision of the Blue Paper • IMP – a coordinating policy • Change of policy and decision making • Invite Member States to draw up national integrated maritime policies • Act as facilitator and help Member States to set up networks for the exchange of knowledge and experiences • Develop in2008 a road map for maritime spatial planning • Organise a stakeholder consultation structure

3. The EU Integrated Maritime Policy • The “Blue Paper” priorities: • Maximising the sustainable use of the oceans and seas • Building a knowledge and innovation base • Delivering the highest quality of life in coastal regions • Promoting Europe’s leadership in international affairs • Raising visibility for Maritime Europe

4. Overall results of IMP so far • A firm EU maritime agenda and increased visibility for Maritime Europe • A new approach to maritime governance • Cross-cutting tools for comprehensiveness and efficiency – Maritime Spatial Planning one of these

5. Heading towards a mess Map 1: areas with specific sea use, at the Belgian coast Map2: AIS Data from the HELCO website 2007

6. Risks of not planning the sea-use at all The best way to avoid conflicts is to plan so that the conflicts never occur! • Competition • Security risks • Accidents • Inefficient use of data • Environmental risks • Culture loss • Uncertainty • Governance problems • Lost business opportunities

7. What is MSP (1/2)? • (UNESCO-IOC MSP Guidelines): Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that are usually specified through a political process • (Boyes et al. 2007, in Marine Policy): Marine spatial planning is by Boyes et al. (2007) defined as “plan-led framework, which enables integrated forward looking consistent decision-making for the use of the sea”. • Planning process where the various uses of marine space, resources, and ecosystem services are allocated in an optimal way so that it: • - ensures economical, ecological, and social sustainability/benefits, • - avoids conflicts, • - ensures effective governance and • - use the best possible planning resources

8. Revision before starting over What is MSP (2/2)? START 1. Define Vision and Objectives 24. Assessment and Reporting 2. Define Region 3. Define Legal Framework 23. Monitor Performance Indicators 4. Define Principles for Marine Spatial Planning 21. Marine Spatial Plan 22. Dissemination 5. Announce Step 1 INPUT OF HARMONIZED MAPPING DATA 5. Final Assessment & Reporting 1. Vision and Objectives 20. Hold Public Hearing 6. Environmental Characterisation 19. Set up Monitoring Programme 18. Set Specific Targets for Individual Zones, Uses & Activities 4.Implementation 2. Initial Assessment 7. Assessment of Human Impact and Pressures 17. Consult Stakeholders 16. Draft Management Plan 12. Consult Stakeholders In thematic groups 8. Socio-economic Analysis 3. Planning process 9. Assessment of Biodiversity 15. Calculate Costs and Benefits 10. Define Environmental Status 13. Zone Selection Process (based on 8 to 12) 11. Set Targets for Marine Regions (environmental and human activities & uses) 14. Draft Zoning Plan & Map What is MSP (2/2)?

9. What do we get out of it? • We eliminate the risks presented earlier, ensuring: • Competitiveness & good use of opportunities • Good security (surveillance, rescue, defence) • Best use, analysis and accumulation of data • Good environmental health • Sustainable but efficient use of the maritime space, resources and ecosystem services • Ensuring the quality of life in coastal regions • Promoting EU’s maritime leadership • Good governance • Visibility of maritime affairs & excellence

10. MSP trends & major players • MSP is desired by a large number of maritime stakeholders • Australia is a forerunner with the Great Barrier Reef MSP • Several EU Member States are making progress in MSP • USA is about to launch their Oceans Policy and MSP roadmap • Canada is applying high quality MSP in in some areas • China has shown significant development of MSP • European MSP will focus on cross-border cooperation where the MS activities fit together

11. Examples of present challenges: offshore energy Wave Dragon EIA 7 MW Wales

12. Examples of present challenges: maritime traffic Wave Dragon EIA 7 MW Wales

13. Examples of future challenges: super-grids DEFINITION: ”an electricity transmission system, mainly based on direct current, designed to facilitate large-scale sustainable power generation in remote areas for transmission to centres of consumption, one of whose fundamental attributes will be the enhancement of the market in electricity.” Source: Lithuanian Electricity Association

14. Examples of future challenges: cross-basin constructions • Lithuania is facing a shutdown of major power generating capacities by 2013 • NordBalt Link is a 350km power cable planned to connect SWE with LIT by 2016 • Estimated life time 30 years • Södra Midsjöbanken is a E-ON company project in process • Södra Midjösbanken (SMB) is located closely to the NordBalt link • SMB Sited 100 km to Swedish mainland • Low environmental impact and stable geological conditions? • Plans to build as deep as 30m Source: Lithuanian Electricity Association

15. EU’s MSP activities since November 2008

16. Desires - EU’s 10 Key principles for MSP (MSP Roadmap 28.11.2008) • Using MSP according to area and type of activity • Defining objectives to guide MSP • Developing MSP in a transparent manner • Stakeholder participation • Coordination within Member States – simplifying decision processes • Ensuring the legal effect of national MSP • Cross-border cooperation and consultation • Incorporating monitoring and evaluation in the planning process • Achieving coherence between terrestrial and maritime spatial planning • Strong data and knowledge base

17. Policy process: Preparatory actions • Two preparatory actions are foreseen for the Baltic and the North Sea / North East Atlantic • Calls for proposal launched – deadline 30 April • Aim at fostering the development of cross-border cooperation aspects of MSP • Encourage the involved Member States to identify a shared sea area and develop MSP objectives and a management plan for this area

18. Arguments for a European approach to MSP • Increasing number of EU Member States use MSP • Strengthen the competitiveness of EU’s maritime economy • Provide reliable planning framework for the Internal Market • Build on the ecosystem-based approach – useful tool for implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive • Encourage cross-border cooperation • Coordinate sectoral approaches and reducing the costs of non-coordination • Facilitate common understanding of MSP

19. European Marine Observation and Data Network: EMODNET http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/consultation_emodnet_en.html

20. Policy process: Studies on MSP • Legal aspects of MSP – concluded (available on the Commission website) • Economic benefits of MSP – ongoing • Potential of MSP in the Mediterranean Sea • Further preparatory actions and studies under consideration

21. Policy process: Next steps • Progress report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament • Impact Assessment on options for how to move on with MSP in an EU context • Timing: Foreseen last quarter 2010 • Will build on the debate in the workshops, the experience gained through the preparatory actions and the results of the studies conducted so far, as well as global MSP experiences

22. Regulate the use of sea space The core of MSP Certainty • THE MSP “ONION” • The MSP core is about regulating the use of sea-space • The next layer is presenting the ways by which the regulation can take place • The outermost layer includes the benefits of the MSP process Easy access and use of MSP data Optimal location of sea-use Set up formats and databases for sea-use data Set up terms for MSP governance Open planning process Stakeholder trust and active involvement Define indicators for assessing economic benefits Economic benefits Define how to Apply the MSFD for MSP Ecosystem services Healthy, productive, resilient ecosystems

23. In MSP one of the keys to success is to make sure everybody understands each other! Thank you!