PA Spatial Planning implemented through two thematic areas:

• land-based spatial planning;
• maritime spatial planning (MSP).

Maritime Spatial Planning

Goal: Ensuring coherent maritime spatial plans throughout the Baltic Sea.

Strategic target: To draw up and apply maritime spatial plans throughout the BSR which are coherent across the borders and apply ecosystem-based approach.

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) helps various users to balance sectoral interests that compete for marine space and contribute to achieving sustainable use of marine areas to the benefit of economic and social development as well as the marine environment. MSP has to be aligned with terrestrial planning to ensure land-sea interactions. The establishment and implementation of MSP by applying the ecosystem approach is required by the EU MSP Directive.

The Regional Baltic MSP Roadmap 2021-2030, along with VASAB Vision 2040 and HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan sets the framework for MSP cooperation and defines the necessary steps to achieve the goal to draw up and apply maritime spatial plans throughout the BSR which are coherent across borders and apply the ecosystem-based approach to contribute to reaching jointly agreed environmental and climate goals. Transboundary coherence of maritime spatial plans implies strengthening of cooperation with non-EU neighboring countries and organizations.