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Croatia

MSP EU Legend 4

This map was compiled from different international sources such as EMODnet, EEA or Marine Regions. Information obtained from these sources was cross-checked with data from national sources. While compilation was carried out by the European MSP Platform, validation and quality assurance remain the responsibility of the primary data sources.

Basic facts on Marine Waters

  • In February 2021, the Croatian Parliament declared the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea (EEZ) (Official Gazette 10/21).
  • Croatia's territorial sea extend out to 12 nautical miles (as defined by UNCLOS)
  • Internal waters of the Republic of Croatia include ports and bays on coast and islands, and also parts of sea between low waterline at the coast and the straight baseline for measuring width of the territorial waters;
  • Agreed boundaries at sea with Italy and Montenegro;
  • Boundaries at sea with Bosnia and Herzegovina are in provisional application;
  • The border with the Republic of Slovenia is not awarded and remains unchanged as of 1991 until Croatia and Slovenia reach the final delimitation. The graphic depiction and description of the border are exclusively for the purpose of this document;

Relevant links

View best practices relevant for Croatia
Go to East Mediterranean Sea basin page
Contact email:
eastmed [at] maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu

Ongoing projects

View all projects for Croatia
Back to all Countries

Maritime Spatial Plan(s) 

Statut: MSP process ongoing

Croatia has not yet adopted an MSP of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The entire territorial sea of Republic of Croatia is covered by spatial plans which include both the land area and the marine waters of Croatia. All plans can be reached on ISPU Geoportal.

MSP of the Exclusive Economic Zone is in progress. In accordance with the requirements of Directive 2014/89/EU, the Spatial Plan of the EEZ is in process of adoption, based on amendments to the Physical Planning Act (Official Gazette 67/23) entered into force in July 2023.

View the Physical Planning Information System (ISPU geoportal) 

View the Spatial Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia (2017 - in English)

View the Report on the Spatial Situation in the Republic of Croatia for the period 2013-2019 (in English)

View the Physical Planning Programme of the Republic of Croatia

MSP legislation

The primary legislation on physical planning in Croatia is the Physical Planning Act (Official Gazette 153/13, 65/17, 114/18, 39/19, 98/19, 67/23). The amendment to this Act (Official Gazette 65/17) came into force in July 2017, providing the complete transposition of the EU MSP Directive into the legislation of the Republic of Croatia. The amendment to this Act (Official Gazette 67/23), came into force in June 2023, fulfilled the prerequisite for the start of the process of creating the Spatial Plan of the Exclusive Economic Zone. 

National MSP authority

Croatia's competent authority for MSP is the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets (MPPCSA)

Contacts:

Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets
mail: MSPatmpgi.hr (MSP[at]mpgi[dot]hr) 

Mrs Lidija Škec
Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets
Institute for Spatial Development
Savska cesta 28, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
tel: +358 1 3712 732

For more information

For more information regarding the evolution of the MSP process in Croatia please see the dedicated country profile below. 

Croatia Country Profile.pdf
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