Maritime Spatial Planning as enabler of the European Green Deal

2026-07-22

The MSP-GREEN project proposal addresses the challenge “Reflect and align maritime spatial plans to the ambition of the European Green Deal” and the related priority “MSP as an enabler of the European Green Deal” (EGD). The proposal builds on the need to strengthen EGD components of MSP plans, to operationalise EGD objectives within MSP, to reinforce the coherence between different directives and solve conflicting objectives. It is essential to investigate further the best approach to foster the EGD ambition through all the MSP stages: implementation, monitoring and revision. MSP-GREEN aims at creating a framework for MSP plans as “marine enablers” of the EGD. The framework will address analysis and action dimensions and will provide a cross-cutting approach to the main key topics included in the EGD relevant for the marine environment and the sustainable transition of the blue economy: climate change, circular blue economy, protection of marine biodiversity, marine renewable energies, healthy and sustainable food provision. MSP-GREEN approach will build on three major components: analysis, innovation (via valuable practises and new actions), and transferability. Recommendations on how to strengthen the EGD ambition of EU MSP plans and boost EGD implementation with actions addressed by MSP will be prepared based on the project results and by consulting experts and practitioners at EU level. Project results will be transferred and further discussed across the EU sea basins, to strengthen the regional dimension and rise the ambition for a Sustainable Blue Economy, considering environmental, socio-economic, geopolitical, regional specificities. Dissemination of projects findings among MSP and EGD stakeholders and the public across different basins will help bonding the European maritime and coastal cultural and socio-economic aspects towards a sustainable and long-lasting development, for the benefit of all in the entire European Union and neighbouring countries.

Italy

2025-10-01