Two new EU-funded projects on Maritime Spatial Planning kicked off

The kick-off meeting with CINEA and the European Commission (DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) marked the official launch of two new Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) actions. The projects are funded under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

These projects align with the European Green Deal objectives and aim to address the growing challenges that blue economy sectors face, including competition for space, sustainability of economic activities, and the cumulative impacts of spatial planning stressors. The Mediterranean and North Sea regions will be the geographical focus of the projects.

The projects are designed to offer innovative solutions for integrating sustainability and EU Green Deal objectives into national maritime spatial plans. The initiatives will also foster cross-border cooperation and contribute to long-term environmental and economic resilience.

Find out more about both projects below.

MEDIGREEN: MEDiterranean approach towards a maritime European GREEN Deal in MSP 

The MEDIGREEN project aims to advance the European Green Deal transition in the Mediterranean Sea. It will enhance transnational cooperation in Maritime Spatial Planning, with a focus on key sectors such as offshore renewable energy, fishing, aquaculture, and nature conservation.

By building on the results of the MSP-GREEN project, MEDIGREEN will help EU Member States move closer to achieving the EU Green Deal's objectives, while also expanding cooperation with non-EU countries like Algeria and Tunisia.

The project's specific tasks include: assessing the state of play and MSP’s impact on achieving the European Green Deal’s objectives, strengthening national actions that support the EU Green Deal components of maritime spatial plans and creating recommendations to improve the transition in key maritime sectors.

Furthermore, the Mediterranean MSP Community of Practice will be directly involved in the project’s discussions, with two face-to-face workshops scheduled for 2026 to further develop these strategies for MSP cooperation and exchanges between EU and non-EU stakeholders and relevant authorities in the sea-basin. 

Duration: 30 months

EU contribution: € 1 598 513.97

NESBp: Enhancing Maritime Governance and Ecosystem-Based Management in the North Sea

The Northern European Sea Basins project (NESBp) focuses on the governance, multi-use, and ecosystem-based management of the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions. It will provide recommendations for the sustainable development of marine protected areas, incorporating the transition to renewable energy and the protection of biodiversity within the national maritime spatial plans.

Key objectives include: strengthening multi-level governance in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions, developing methods to apply an ecosystem-based approach, particularly focusing on cumulative impacts, and enhancing knowledge sharing to support the diverse stakeholders involved in maritime spatial planning.

Duration: 30 months

EU contribution: € 2 466 512.48

Supporting the EU Green Deal trough maritime spatial planning

The ongoing EMFAF programme, which has funded maritime spatial planning projects for over a decade, is instrumental in facilitating the transition to a more sustainable blue economy. The two newly launched projects will contribute to this by addressing cumulative impacts through the application of ecosystem-based approaches and reinforcing Strategic Environmental Assessments.

Finally, the digitalisation of MSP aims to harmonise data across Europe and make maritime spatial plans accessible through platforms like the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).

This will lead to more transparency, encourage stakeholder participation, and facilitate cross-border consultation.