Policy Area Spatial Planning


Policy Area (PA) Spatial Planning within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) represents the expertise in spatial planning in the Baltic Sea Region and ensures the implementation of the EUSBSR and its Action Plan. PA Spatial Planning is co-coordinated by VASAB and HELCOM Secretariats.
About EUSBSR
The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is an agreement between the European Commission and the EU member states bordering the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. It fosters cooperation and finds common solutions to joint challenges on a macro-regional level.
EUSBSR has three objectives:
- Save the Sea
- Connect the Region
- Increase Prosperity
To achieve these objectives, the Strategy’s Action Plan identifies the most important actions for implementation. The actions are thematically divided into 14 Policy Areas (PAs) which are all linked and contribute to achieving these objectives from different angles and in diverse ways.
Policy Areas represent the expertise in their respective areas of activity. They are managed operationally by one or more Policy Area Coordinators (PACs) coming from a Member States’ official authority of the national or regional government. The work of the Policy Area and of the Policy Area Coordinator is supported and guided strategically by their respective by a respective Steering Group (SG).
More information: https://eusbsr.eu/

Policy Area Spatial Planning works on a well-integrated and coherent Baltic Sea Region
The Policy Area Spatial Planning ensures a transnational approach in spatial planning in the Baltic Sea Region and creates a forum and cooperation platform for regional, trans-boundary and cross-sectoral dialogue towards more coherent planning.
Policy Area Spatial Planning focuses on encouraging the use of maritime and land-based spatial planning in all EUSBSR Member States around the Baltic Sea. The overall goal is to achieve territorial cohesion perspective in the Baltic Sea Region by 2030, i.e. the region shall be well-integrated and coherent and has overcome the socio-economic development divides between its individual parts and turned the global challenges into assets.
PA Spatial Planning is implemented through two thematic areas:
- land-based spatial planning. Read more.
- maritime spatial planning (MSP). Read more.
Governance
Policy Area Spatial Planning has a Steering Group that follows Rules of Procedure and meets in two formations:
- VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region (CSPD/BSR) acts as Steering Group for the land-based spatial planning issues;
- The joint HELCOM-VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group acts as the Steering Group for the Policy Area Spatial Planning concerning Maritime Spatial Planning issues.
PA Spatial Planning Coordinators
PA Spatial Planning is co-coordinated by VASAB and HELCOM. Policy Area Coordinators:
Tīna Šipkēvica
tina.sipkevica@vasab.org
VASAB Secretariat
Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky
dmitry.frank-kamenetsky@helcom.fi
HELCOM Secretariat
Download the brochure here.