Italy

Maritime Spatial Plan(s)

Status: MSP Adopted

Italy adopted its Maritime Space Management Plans on 25th of September 2024 by Ministerial Decree No. 237.

View the Italian MSP here (in Italian)

Latest MSP developments

Since the Italian plans formally entered into force in 2024 and have an initial time horizon until 2034, the second round of large-scale evaluation does not concern the drafting of a completely new plan, but rather the following official phases: the Initial Monitoring and Review Process and the Synergy with the 2nd European Cycle (Post-2026 Horizon), where Italy will use this second round to align its three sectoral plans (Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic) with updated regulations for strict protection of marine biodiversity and new hydrogen transport or carbon capture networks. This alignment is the strategic core of adaptive governance of Italy's maritime space. With the official publication of the 2026-2028 Maritime Plan (Piano del Mare 2026-2028), approved by the CIPOM (Interministerial Committee for Maritime Policies), Italy consolidates the roadmap for implementing this transition.

MSP legislation

The EU MSP Directive was transposed into national legislation through the Legislative Decree 17 October 2016, n. 201. The Inter-ministerial Coordination Table for Maritime Spatial Planning completed guidelines containing indicators and criteria for the preparation of maritime spatial managment plans, published in the Decreee of the Presidency of Council of Ministries, 1 December 2017, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on 24 January 2018, n.19. 

National MSP authority

Italy's competent authority for MSP is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Contacts:

Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Directorate General for the Sea, Maritime and Inland Waterways Transport
Via dell’Arte 16 – 00144 Rome
Director: Stefano Fabrizio
E-mail: dg.tmpec.mit.gov.it (dg[dot]tm[at]pec[dot]mit[dot]gov[dot]it) 
Phone: 0039 06 5908 4205

For more information

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