Future conditions and scenarios for marine special planning and sustainable blue economy opportunities in the western Mediterranean

Abstract

The WP2 is being implemented in seven Western Mediterranean countries: Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia; other countries of the Union for the Mediterranean have also been invited to participate. The activities of this work package are in line with and contribute to existing national MSP processes, as well as potential transboundary MSP processes in the region. It has five specific objectives, which are described below: 1. Increase awareness among decision-makers and elected officials concerning the importance of MSP in the context of sustainable Blue Economy in order to foster dialogue and cooperation on cross-border MSP to enable Blue Growth in the Western Mediterranean Sea basin; 2. Wherever possible under existing mechanisms, initiate an institutional coordination dialogue between the various authorities at the national, regional and local levels building on the results of EU transboundary projects; 3. Build on work being done by the SIMWESTMED MSP project at EU level to increase cooperation with non-EU Member States on MSP (and other on-going initiatives) by developing an MSP pre-planning phase in the Western Mediterranean region; 4. Explore the links between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and contribute to a better understanding of similarities and differences between the two concepts; 5. Formulate regional recommendations in line with the Initiative for the development of the Blue Economy in the Western Mediterranean (WestMED Initiative) and its Framework for Action, explore political will, and wherever possible establish the first steps leading to the adoption of a roadmap on MSP and sustainable Blue Economy in the sea basin. This Technical Report on Future Conditions and Scenarios for Marine Spatial Planning and Sustainable Blue Economy Opportunities in the Western Mediterranean is related to the specific objective 3, and aims to support the discussions and development of the pre-planning phase of a regional transboundary MSP in the Western Mediterranean Sea basin.