On the 30th of March, the REGINA-MSP project consortium organised a high-level event on the future of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) from a regional perspective, hosted by the Region of Murcia at the European Committee of the Regions, in Brussels. The symposium gathered key policymakers and local and regional authorities representatives, to address critical marine governance issues shaping MSP for the years ahead.
This event was organised as part of the REGINA-MSP project which recognises the critical role regions play in achieving the European Green Deal objectives, related to the Blue Economy and the Biodiversity Strategy. Indeed, regions act as facilitators in national MSP, although their involvement varies significantly across the EU. Thereby, REGINA-MSP aims to address these complexities by fostering collaboration and strengthening the coherence of MSP plans across Europe. REGINA-MSP will explore potential evolution through policy briefs summarising the information collected and policy papers proposing recommendations to national and local, regional authorities and the European Union. Thanks to this project, supported by the CPMR, increased mobilisation at the regional level in favour of MSP should be enabled, in accordance with the Green Deal objectives.
CPMR Vice-President for Maritime Affairs, Talvikki Jori from the Region Southwest Finland, delivered a keynote speech, emphasising, “More than ever, Maritime Spatial Planning should be regarded not merely as a practical tool. It should rather be considered as a policy of utmost importance that could profoundly influence the reflection on maritime sectors, and the coastal territorial development of the EU. […] Regions are key actors to guarantee alignment between European, national policies, funding mechanisms and territorial development strategies. This makes the participation of regions essential to make sure that EU and national ambitions meet regional realities and priorities.”
The symposium featured two primary sessions: the importance of multi-level governance in the MSP process and the energy transition alongside environmental challenges. The discussions highlighted the essential role of regions in ensuring alignment between European, national and territorial development strategies. During this event, special attention has also been paid to showcasing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by islands in maritime planning.
Olivier Laroussinie, Director of Maritime Planning at the French public agency CEREMA, presented the REGINA-MSP project, underlining the essential interaction between regional actions and national strategies, particularly in the development of terrestrial infrastructures and offshore wind farms. He underlined the European Commission’s efforts citing numerous pilot regions where detailed studies and recommendations are being developed to guide future policies such as Sardinia, Crete and Ireland.
In this context, Stella Kyvellou, Professor at the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Athens, shared insights into Greece’s evolving MSP framework, highlighting the critical role of regions in providing opinions on environmental impacts and promoting social acceptance of offshore projects. Meanwhile, Anne Marie O’Hagan, senior research fellow in Marine and Coastal Governance from University College Cork ‘s MaREI centre, discussed the revolutionary changes in Irish MSP, emphasising the importance of local authority involvement and the benefits of regional advisory groups.
A key focus was the need for tailored strategies, especially for islands, ensuring that local priorities and specificities are adequately addressed in broader MSP frameworks. During the roundtable on enhancing MSP efficiency, Felix Leinemann, Head of the Blue Economy Sectors, Aquaculture and Maritime Spatial Planning Unit at the European Commission, stressed the importance of ecosystem-based MSP, given the increasing demands on maritime space for energy, biodiversity and food production. The need for regional and local authorities to be fully integrated into MSP emerged as a crucial issue, with participants advocating for more substantial responsibilities and better resources for regions.
João Miguel Palma Guerreiro Lança, Head of the Azores EU Office, pointed out the geostrategic position of the region and highlighted the main challenges and threats faced by the Azores and other islands, such as vulnerability to climate change, biodiversity loss and increased touristic activities. He stressed the issue of interconnection between islands and promoted the need for public participation and consultation regarding maritime planning. Regarding renewable energy, he mentioned efforts to mitigate the challenges of the isolated system through a strategy for energy efficiency and increased renewable production. While offshore wind is not currently viable due to the sea’s depth, the Azores focus on geothermal energy and remain open to future technological advancements that might make ocean energy feasible.
Keeping up the momentum, the CPMR Islands Commission will continue its efforts to enhance the role of regions in MSP, ensuring more effective and sustainable maritime spatial planning aligned with broader environmental goals. By promoting regional cooperation and tailored strategies, the European Commission and the CPMR jointly aim to guarantee that the unique needs of island regions are considered in the broader European maritime spatial planning framework. The symposium, fully in line with this objective, underlined the importance of continuous dialogue and cooperation among all sectoral stakeholders and multilevel marine governance actors to achieve a balanced and sustainable approach to maritime spatial planning, one that integrates regional priorities with European ambitions.
