Future implementation of the European Union (EU) Directive on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the Baltic Sea region as well as exchange of MSP data are among the main topics of the of the MSP of Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission () and Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea (), closing today in Riga, Latvia. The EU member states of the Baltic Sea region will soon face the implementation of the MSP Directive after its final adoption by the Council of the European Union, anticipated to take place on 23 July 2014. The joint HELCOM-VASAB MSP Working Group, active since 2010, is ready to ensure the regional coherence of such implementation activities. Efficient exchange of geographical data is a prerequisite of regionally coherent implementation of the EU Directive as well as the regional commitments agreed within HELCOM and VASAB. Today’s Meeting suggests a regional correspondence group on MSP data to support the updating and creation of regional datasets for MSP. * * *Note for editors:According to the United Nations, maritime spatial planning (MSP) is “a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that usually have been specified through a political process.” HELCOM has for years been in the forefront of MSP in the Baltic Sea and within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, HELCOM leads with VASAB the Horizontal Action: Spatial Planning (full title: Encouraging the use of Maritime and Land-based Spatial Planning in all Member States around the Baltic Sea and develop a common approach for cross-border cooperation). HELCOM Ministerial Meeting adopted last year the . * * *The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary of Maritime, Response, and Maritime spatial planning HELCOM Tel: +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer@helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi
Future implementation of the EU Directive on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the Baltic Sea region as well as exchange of MSP data are among the main topics in HELCOM-VASAB Meeting.
