Transnational MSP Recommendations

Questions this practice may help answer

• What are the options for the EU to promote transnational cooperation on MSP?
• What more specific measures can be taken aimed at improving coordination of MSP between Member States?

Implementation Context

There are important interdependencies between the national and transnational MSP levels, e.g. national planning decisions have an impact on other countries that share the same marine region or sub-region. Likewise, many issues and sea uses transcend national borders. MSP approaches at national level need to be compatible with a cross-border perspective, and vice-versa, to ensure that together they can deliver the best basis for decision making and planning

Aspects / Objectives

Provides recommendations aimed at improving coordination of MSP between Member States, along with a better level of European integration, in support of improved conditions for the deployment of ORE (Offshore Renewable Energy)

Method

The most appropriate level and type of intervention for enhancing cross-border cooperation and transnational coordination on MSP have been examined. In particular, different possible approaches are tested against the framework of barriers, which have been defined in the project, to see whether the recommended approach would indeed alleviate them. Some approaches for encouraging cooperation also come closer than others to meeting the recommendations from previous work in the project on national MSP and international instruments. This is also taken into account when developing recommendations.

Main Outputs / Results

A report has been produced. The report discusses a number of options for the EU to promote transnational cooperation on MSP. It is argued that a Directive – focussed on encouraging cross-border cooperation – would require Member States to open direct communication on the details of their national MSP without dictating outcomes. This would give cross-border cooperation a firm legal footing, whilst leaving implementation to the Member States. Such an approach comes closest to satisfying the understanding of planning competences that exists within the EU. At the same time, the corresponding recommendations leave open the possibility of implementing a similar approach through less binding interventions such as guidelines, working groups or regional sea basins

The specific recommendations focus on the following seven aspects:

1. The recommended role for the EU in relation to MSP,
2. The scale at which action on transnational MSP is most appropriate,
3. A possible structure for an instrument for EU intervention in MSP,
4. The planning horizon that should be adopted,
5. Key steps in the process of fostering transnational cooperation on MSP,
6. Additional content surrounding MSP that could be a focus during cross-
7. Border coordination and the relationship of transnational MSP to other EU legislation and initiatives.

They are aimed at providing an appropriate framework for promoting cross-border cooperation on MSP –as well as indicating something of the desirable content of these discussions –in order to support deployment of ORE beyond the 2020 timeframe and balance this with the needs of other sea uses and conservation goals.

The following tables show the detailed recommendations

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Transferability

The analysis and recommendations are pan-European and therefore are highly transferrable among the different sea basins.

Costs / Funding Source

The practice was elaborated under the Seanergy 2020 Project co-financed by Intelligent Energy Europe. Direct costs of its elaboration are unknown.

Responsible Entity

European Wind Energy Association

Contact Person

Dorina Iuga

European Wind Energy Association

Email: di@ewea.org