Library and Knowledge Hub
Publications
| Publication | Year | Key word | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic PlaNet Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, and Outreach Plan | 2025 | Stakeholder Engagement, Coastal Planning, Climate Change | Project report | This document defines how the project platform Baltic PlaNet will systematically engage stakeholders, disseminate results, and build long-term capacity across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). |
| eMSP NBSR project results | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning | Project reports, policy briefs, podcast episodes | The eMSP NBSR project, implemented from September 2021 to June 2024, provided a platform for marine spatial planners and other experts to collaboratively advance MSP practice. It addressed five urgent emerging MSP topics through a community of practice-based approach that enabled joint learning across professions and across the North Sea and Baltic Sea areas. |
| Capacity4MSP Project Report “Cross-sectoral Dialogues Summaries and Key Messages” | 2022 | Maritime Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Dialogue | Project report | The dialogue with sectors and stakeholders was always in the very heart of the maritime spatial planning, especially in the Baltic Sea Region with its reach history of EU projects of transboundary nature. This report brings the most important insights from most of the dialogues in one place. |
| Young Planners’ Summer School 2022 results | 2022 | Young professionals | Summer school results | Presentations of five international and interdisciplinary teams on the ideas of Sustainable Futures for the Baltic Sea Region by 2040 |
| Synthesis Report on the Experience from Maritime Spatial Planning Projects in the Baltic Sea Region and the Resultant Policy Messages, Capacity4MSP | 2021 | Martime Spatial Planning | Synthesis report | The overall aim of this report is to synthesize and multiply the knowledge gained from various maritime spatial planning (MSP) projects and MSP practices within and beyond the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) in order to supplement the EU’s, pan-Baltic and national commitments towards well-functioning MSP in the BSR by 2021. |
| Capacity4MSP report on Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms for MSPs in the Baltic Sea Region | 2021 | Maritime Spatial Planning | Project report | The given report aims to inform MSP practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders across all levels (including those outside the EU) how MSPs - adopted as a result of the EU MSP Directive - are practically implemented in the given EU BSR Member States; it also highlights similarities, differences and background for possible future developments to further improve the given MSP processes. |
| Accessibility of the Baltic Sea Region - past and future dynamics | 2019 | Accessibility | VASAB publication | The accessibility scenarios of this VASAB publication are meant to describe realistic situations according to planned transport infrastructure development changes. |
| Accessibility of the Baltic Sea Region | 2019 | Accessibility | Leaflet | |
| Baltic LINes Project Findings | 2019 | Maritime Spatial Planning, Energy, Shipping | Project findings | Within Baltic LINes, representatives from nine countries around the Baltic Sea looked into the current status of shipping and energy sectors as well as possible future scenarios. They identified planning issues as a result of different national planning criteria and approaches and developed practical guides in the form of a step-wise approach as planning solutions. |
| Young Planners’ Contest 2019 results | 2019 | Young professionals | Contest results | Posters and presentations from eight international and interdisciplinary teams on ideas for Liveable Places and Spaces of Tomorrow in the Baltic Sea region |
| Pan Baltic Scope project results | 2019 | Maritime Spatial Planning | Project reports, recommendations | The objective of the project was to achieve coherent national maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea region and to build lasting macro-region mechanisms for cross-border MSP cooperation. |
| Baltic LINes Project Output Library | 2019 | Energy sector, Shipping | Project reports, recommendations, findings | The overall objective of the Project was to increase transnational coherence of shipping routes and energy corridors in Maritime Spatial Plans in the Baltic Sea Region. |
| Accessibility of the Baltic Sea Region: past and future dynamics | 2018 | Accessibility | Research report | The report is the background study for the VASAB publication on "Accessibility of the Baltic Sea Region". |
| Summary of Needs and Bottlenecks in the NSB CoRe project area (North Sea Baltic corridor) | 2017 | Accessibility | Project report | The overall objective of the consultancy assignment is to assist the VASAB Secretariat with elaboration of the Joint transnational spatial vision on regional development, logistics and mobility of the North Sea-Baltic corridor. |
| Development of cities in the Baltic Sea Region | 2016 | Cities | Research report | The report examines the development of cities of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) from 2005 to 2014 (where available) in four aspects: demography, economic performance and dynamics, human capital in cities and social inclusion and quality of life. |
| Development of cities in the Baltic Sea Region | 2016 | Cities | VASAB Publication | The VASAB publication examines the development of cities of the BSR between 2005 and 2014 in four aspects: demography, economic performance and dynamics, human capital in cities and social inclusion and quality of life. |
| Urban Revitalisation in the Baltic Sea Region | 2016 | Urban revitalisation | VASAB Publication | Publication serves as an overview of how VASAB countries perceive revitalisation and defines what are the actions undertaken by them in that field. |
| Baltic Scope project results | 2016 | Maritime Spatial Planning | Project reports, topic papers, joint maps | The two-year project covered four sectors of maritime activities: fishery, shipping, environment and energy. New methods were developed to gather information and develop planning evidence. The project reached its aim and increased the collaboration between the countries involved. |
| Baltic Sea Region - Territorial Monitoring | 2014 | Synthesis report | Publication | This publication synthesises the results of the ESPON BSR TeMo project, a Scientific Platform Project conducted within the framework of the ESPON 2013 Programme, partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund. |
| VASAB welcomes the proposal of the European Commission on further development of the trans-European transport network | 2012 | EU TEN-T, Accessibility | VASAB Publication | Opinion of the Committee for Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region - VASAB |
| BaltSeaPlan Vision 2030 | 2012 | Vision 2030, MSP | Project report | On 19 March 2012 VASAB CSPD/BSR acknowledged the BaltSeaPlan Vision 2030 as important input towards common understanding of Maritime Spatial Planning in the BSR. |
| Necessary common minimum requirements for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the Baltic Sea | 2012 | Requirements for transboundary co-operation | Project final report | PlanBothnia project report sets out common minimum requirements for transboundary co-operation as an essential prerequisite for MSP, irrespective of whether MSP encompasses a single BSR country or many. The common minimum requirements are based on the relevant international and EU regulations and the findings of several transnational projects in the Baltic Sea, as well as the joint HELCOM-VASAB Baltic Sea Broad Scale Maritime Spatial Planning Principles which are used as a yardstick. |
| Identification of maritime spatial planning best practices in the Baltic Sea Region and other European Union maritime regions | 2012 | Good practices | Project report | This report identifies good practices in implementation of the Baltic Sea broad-scale maritime spatial planning principles jointly developed by VASAB and HELCOM in 2010. |
| Assessment of European Commission proposal for development of Trans-European Transport Network vs. VASAB LTP for the territorial development of the Baltic Sea Region, 2011 | 2011 | Transport network | Assessment report | Assessment of the European Commission’s proposal for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network versus the VASAB long-term perspective for the territorial development of the Baltic Sea Region |
Policy Briefs
| Policy Brief | Year | Key word | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Messages from the Maritime Spatial Planning Projects in the Baltic Sea Region | 2021 | Maritime Spatial Planning | The Policy brief of the Interreg BSR project platform Capacity4MSP synthesis report adopts the form of a roadmap/policy brief for maritime spatial planning (MSP) and emphasizes the topics which require public support at the current stage of the MSP development in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) (finalization and adoption of marine plans). The policy roadmap/brief focuses on issues which need to be improved and where gaps with regard to shared common understanding exist. It also contains supporting tools to be of assistance for practitioners in enhancing the aforesaid development. |
| Communities of Practice in marine spatial planning across sea basins - making it work | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning | This Policy Brief and the included analytical and reflection tool, the so-called Communities of Practice (CoP) flower, has been cocreated by researchers and process facilitation experts within the eMSP NBSR project. |
| Climate-smart MSP | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning | This policy brief is based on views collected from the eMSP NBSR project partners through several steps during the project. The process was iterative including several steps of written contributions by the participating countries, dedicated workshops on climate change and collection of inputs to the draft policy brief. |
| Coherence in MSP – how to adapt homogenously in rapidly changing circumstances | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning | This policy brief on Coherence in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is based on an overview of current practices among North Sea and Baltic Sea countries. Its aim is to help maritime spatial planners and politicians to understand the impact of risks and challenges of, rapidly changing circumstances in the sea basin on MSP at a cross-border scale, and how MSPs can be adjusted accordingly. The policy brief has been developed by the M&E-learning strand in the eMSP-NBSR project through a process of a Community of Practice |
| Monitoring and Evaluation in MSP – Always aim for better plans! | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation | The recommendations in this policy brief were developed by the M&E Learning Strand in the eMSP NSBR project through a Community of Practice-based approach which brought together planners, stakeholders and researchers over the course of two years. It is based on an overview of current M&E practice and reflects diverse M&E approaches that are already being considered or implemented in different countries. More importantly, it also reflects the many practical questions planners are asking. How can a task that many see as complicated become more tangible and effective? Here we summarise key points for consideration. |
| An ecosystem-based approach delivers future-proof maritime spatial planning | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning, Ecosystem-based approach | This policy brief on implementation of the ecosystem-based approach (EBA) in maritime spatial planning (MSP) is based on an overview of current practice among North Sea and Baltic Sea countries. Its aim is to identify, develop and share best practices to strengthen EBA in MSP. The policy brief has been developed by the EBA-learning strand of the Emerging ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning topics in North and Baltic Seas Region project (eMSP NBSR) through a process of a Community of Practice. It is primarily directed at decision makers in the sphere of ocean governance but also concerns other stakeholders involved in maritime spatial planning. |
| Strengthening Data sharing for informed decision-making in Maritime Spatial Planning | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning, Data Sharing | Key recommendations in using MSP data. |
| Towards a sustainable blue economy | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning | This policy brief includes recommendations on how to achieve a sustainable blue economy, in the context of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), where the EU transitions, as stated in the Green Deal, on energy, food and nature at sea should be balanced. |
| Addressing the fragmentation of Ocean Governance across boarders | 2024 | Maritime Spatial Planning | This policy brief on ocean governance and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the North and Baltic Sea Region (NBSR) addresses the pressing need within the EU and the Baltic and North Sea countries to adapt their laws, regulations, policies, strategies, business models, and institutions in response to the evolving challenges and needs in ecosystem-based MSP. |
Events
| Event | Year | Worth reviewing | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Baltic MSP Forum - Navigate Planning Through Changes | 2025 | Report, presentations, session video recordings | The 5th Baltic MSP Forum Navigate Planning Through Changes took place on 11–12 November 2025 in Riga, Latvia. The Forum was organized in close connection with the Baltic Sea2Land project, serving as its final conference, and broadening the scope to strengthen linkages between maritime spatial planning and coastal zone planning. |
| VASAB webinar on National Level Spatial Planning in the Baltic Sea Region / 11 February 2025 | 2025 | Webinar video recording | Estonia, during its VASAB Chairmanship, held a webinar to discuss how spatial planning is carried out at the national level in countries around the region on 11 February 2025. |
| Capacity4MSP Final event | 2022 | Session video recordings | The closing event took place online on 9 March 2022. Within the event, the main results of the project platform were presented. In addition, the policy debate on the MSP future was facilitated. The target audience of the event was MSP practitioners, policymakers and decision-makers in the BSR and beyond to support their work with stakeholders. |
| Offshore wind energy: Challenges and opportunities emerging from new European expansion targets. 2022 June | 2022 | Webinar video recording | Under the German VASAB Chairmanship in 2022 the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building and the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency hosted a webinar with a focus on offshore wind energy as a key driver of a sustainable long-term perspective in the Baltic Sea Region on 9 June 2022. |
| 4th Baltic MSP Forum Delivering MSP – Interactions and Capacities Across All Levels | 2021 | Report, presentations, session video recordings | The 4th Baltic MSP Forum ‘Delivering MSP – Interactions and Capacities Across All Levels’ took place on 1 – 2 June 2021, online and was broadcasted from Latvia. The Forum was organised by two Interreg BSR projects Capacity4MSP and Land-Sea-Act and it served as a final conference for both projects. |
| Workshop: How to enhance tools for data driven decision making in MSP? | 2021 | Workshop video recording | Workshop during the 4th Baltic MSp Forum that discussed - How to access relevant data to support decision making in the MSP process? How to work with decision support systems for siting growing blue bioeconomy sectors? How to account / assess? for cumulative impacts of human activities in the marine environment? |
| VASAB Conference “Competitiveness of Small & Medium-Sized Cities in the Baltic Sea Region” | 2019 | Speaker presentations | The Conference on 4 June 2019 in Riga, Latvia, looked on the cities and towns from the perspective of their role, challenges, potentials and good practices to strengthen and contribute to the competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region and thus providing substantial input to the joint competitiveness of Europe. |
| VASAB Workshop “Urban dimension in spatial policies in the Baltic Sea Region. Trends and prospects of urbanization” | 2019 | Speaker presentations | Workshop on 22 January 2019 in Schwerin, Germany, brought together experts and policymakers from across the Baltic Sea Region to examine urban networks, polycentric development, and new approaches to regional competitiveness beyond administrative borders. |
| North SEE and Baltic LINes Maritime Spatial Planning Conference ‘Connecting Seas’ | 2019 | Report, presentations, recap video | On 13-14 February 2019 in Hamburg, Germany, for the first time more than 200 MSP experts and stakeholders from both the North and Baltic Sea Regions gathered to exchange knowledge and experience dealing with MSP and discuss topics related to the NorthSEE and Baltic LINes main project findings. |
| 3rd Baltic MSP Forum - Global Meets Regional | 2019 | Session video recordings | Maritime Spatial Planning Forum Global Meets Regional took place on 19 – 21 November in Riga. The MSP Forum opened the floor for discussions that highlighted how regions in Europe and outside Europe are developing MSP initiatives in the transboundary context and what challenges and obstacles they are facing. Plenaries also showed the importance of legal and institutional dimensions for effective design, development and implementation of maritime spatial plans. |
| VASAB Workshop “Smart urban governance in times of transition. Resilience of small and medium cities in the Baltic Sea Region” | 2018 | Speaker presentations | During the Workshop on 6 September 2018 in Liepaja, Latvia, experts and practitioners presented and shared experiences from various Baltic Sea Region areas with examples from shrinking regions and cities. Discussions focused on how to design and implement resilience strategies for small and medium size cities to adapt and thrive in response to the challenges of the 21st century. |
| VASAB workshop “Smart Cities and Regions” | 2018 | Speaker presentations | During the workshop on 31 January 2018 in Sundsvall, Sweden, from all around the Baltic Sea Region presentations were given on how digitalisation is used to improve welfare and attractiveness in our cities and regions. But what could we expect from the future? Which spatial developments are to be created to meet expectations from citizens and how do they involve? |
| The Smart Urban-Rural Development – a VASAB Connected Society Workshop | 2017 | Speaker presentations | Workshop on 18 May 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden, brought together experts to explore current and future urban–rural relations in the Baltic Sea Region. Through presentations on environmental, social, and economic perspectives, the workshop highlighted cooperative exchange, smart solutions, and sustainable pathways for integrated urban–rural development. |
| VASAB workshop “The Connected Society – a Baltic Smart Cities Workshop” | 2017 | Speaker presentations | The VASAB workshop held on 1 February 2017 in Skanör, Sweden, examined how ICT-driven transformation could shape smart cities, infrastructure, and spatial planning across the Baltic Sea Region. The workshop discussed future perspectives of the connected society and VASAB’s role in guiding this change through shared visions, strategies, and coordinated spatial development. |
| VASAB workshop on Territorial Monitoring | 2016 | Speaker presentations | The VASAB workshop on Territorial Monitoring, held on 22 September 2016 in Krakow, presented current initiatives and good practices in spatial monitoring across the Baltic Sea Region and fostered discussion on future development needs, including cross-border aspects. |
| VASAB Conference “Achieving Good Living Environment: Territory Matters. What`s beyond 2030 for Macro-Region?” | 2016 | Speaker presentations | The VASAB workshop on 7 June 2016 in Warsaw, Poland, on Territorial Monitoring presented current initiatives and good practices in spatial monitoring across the Baltic Sea Region and fostered discussion on future development needs, including cross-border aspects. |
| 2nd Baltic MSP Forum | 2016 | Session video recordings | The 2nd Baltic MSP Forum took place on 23-24 November 2016 in Riga, Latvia. It gathered more than 250 participants from 32 countries being the regional event of the institutions responsible for maritime spatial planning. This Forum with its 16 interactive workshops provided a platform for discussions among those involved and affected by maritime spatial planning on how to develop and enhance maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea. |
| 1st Baltic MSP Forum | 2014 | Session video recordings | Taking place on 17-18 June 2014 in Riga, Latvia, the event showcases experiences and practices on MSP approaches and marine resources management. It established a maritime spatial planners platform aiming for exchange of knowledge and experience and discussion on practical and technical planning matters. |
| VASAB Annual Conference “Integrated Approach to Spatial Development of Europe – Meaning of Territorial Cohesion” | 2011 | Speaker presentations | The conference on 7-8 February 2011 in Warsaw, Poland, examined practical ways to implement the concept of Territorial Cohesion in the Baltic Sea Region across multiple geographical scales, from local to European, to support more territorially oriented policymaking. By sharing good practices, it strengthened understanding of VASAB’s role in promoting cohesive, place-based development and contributed to shaping the Territorial Agenda 2020 and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. |
| VASAB Expert and Stakeholder Meeting on Demographic Trends and Labor Market Development | 2010 | Speaker presentations | The VASAB expert and stakeholders meeting on demographic trends and labour market development took place on 8 June 2010 in Kaunas, Lithuania. It marked the first step toward addressing urban–rural polarisation in the Baltic Sea Region. Bringing together policymakers and experts from across the region, the meeting raised awareness of demographic challenges and laid the groundwork for future pan-Baltic discussions and policy recommendations. |
Online tools
BASEMAPS
Basemaps provides access to maritime spatial planning (MSP) data in the Baltic Sea. It is designed for planners, data providers and authorities involved in maritime spatial planning. Open Basemaps here.
Sea2Land Navigator
The Sea2Land Navigator is a powerful tool for coastal and maritime spatial planning practitioners seeking to address Multi-Level Governance (MLG) complexities. Its features include interactive geospatial visualisation, easy access to relevant data, and a range of tools to support the development of effective planning solutions. Open Sea2land Navigator here.
Podcasts
Podcast series “Oysters with a Pearl” developed within the eMSP NBSR project
List of episodes:
- Episode 1 / Ocean Governance / with Lodewijk Abspoel, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
- Episode 2 / Ecosystem-based approach/ with Dimitry Frank-Kamenetsky, HELCOM, and Jan Schmidtbauer Crona, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.
- Episode 3 / Sustainable Blue Economy/ with Marijn Rabaut and Kinnie De Beule, Blue Cluster (Belgium), Nathalie Scheidegger, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality, Marjoleine Karper and Nico Buytendijk, Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
- Episode 4 / Monitoring & evaluation/ with Magdalena Matczak and Jacek Zaucha Maritime Institute of Gdynia Maritime University (Poland), and Philipp Arndt, German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).
- Episode 5 / Data Sharing & ICT/ with Berenice Lequesne, French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM).
- Episode 6 / Climate-smart MSP / with Riku Varjopuro, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke).
- Episode 7 / Community of Practice-based approach / with José Andringa and Jan Peter Oelen, Netherlands Enterprise Agency, and Andrea Morf, Nordregio.
All episodes were produced in period from March to May 2024 by Kira Gee, Maritime Spatial Planning expert at German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).